Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged to push for victory in 2023 as he and other Ukrainians on Friday, February 24, 2023, marked the somber first anniversary of the Russian invasion that changed their lives.
As dawn broke on a day of commemorations and defiance, the President tweeted that Ukrainians had proven themselves to be “invincible” in what he called “a year of pain, sorrow, faith and the unity.”
“We know that 2023 will be the year of our victory!” the tweet read.
Ukrainians attended memorials, candle vigils and other remembrances for their tens of thousands of dead — a toll growing all the time as fighting rages in eastern Ukraine in particular.
There were concerns that Russia might unleash another barrage of missiles against Ukraine to pile yet more sadness on the day.
Mercifully, air raid alarms did not sound overnight in the capital, Kyiv, and dawn broke quietly.
Still, the government recommended that schools move classes online and office employees were asked to work from home.
Tributes to Ukraine’s resilience flowed from overseas. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was among monuments illuminated in Ukraine’s colors — yellow and blue.
China Calls On Russia And Ukraine To Hold Peace Talks
China has reiterated its calls for a political settlement to the Ukraine conflict on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, as Beijing comes under increasing pressure from the United States and its allies over its growing partnership with Moscow.
In a newly released position paper today, February 24, 2023, China’s Foreign Ministry called for a resumption of peace talks, an end to unilateral sanctions, and stressed its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons.
“Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiraling out of control,” the paper noted.
The 12-point document is part of Beijing’s latest efforts to present itself as a neutral peace broker, as it struggles to balance its “no-limits” friendship with Moscow and fraying relations with the West as the war drags on.
But Beijing’s claim to neutrality is severely undermined by its refusal to acknowledge the nature of the conflict – it has avoided calling it an “invasion.”
Western officials have also raised concerns that China may be considering providing Russia with lethal military assistance, an accusation denied by Beijing.
The position paper is mostly a reiteration of China’s existing position, which includes urging both sides to resume peace talks.
Dialogue, The Only Viable Solution
“Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis,” it said, adding that China will play a “constructive role,” without offering details.
The document also read, “the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld,” but did not recognize Russia’s violation of Ukraine sovereignty, or even mention the word “invasion.”
The statement also urged the world to abandon the “Cold War mentality” by ending “any unilateral sanctions not authorised by UN security council”. Various countries have imposed sanctions on Russia.
The paper stresses China’s opposition to the use of nuclear weapons.
“Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought. The threat or use of nuclear weapons should be opposed. Nuclear proliferation must be prevented and nuclear crisis avoided,” it noted.
Ukraine chargé d’affaires (a diplomat of a lower rank acting in place of an ambassador) in Beijing, Zhanna Leshchynska, said the paper showed China wants to be involved in the global effort to stop the war in Ukraine. But she added that China should talk to both countries – and said that, so far, it hasn’t been talking to Ukraine.
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