A Year of the Russian Invasion, President Zelensky: We'll Beat Everyone, Do Everything to Win This Year

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country will beat everyone, do everything to win this year, praising the struggle throughout the past year, marking a year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In a video released to the media and captioned "The Year Undefeated", the 45-year-old sits at a table and recalls how he addressed Ukrainians a year ago in a hasty statement, when Kyiv and the world were shaken by Russian war action.

"A year ago today, from the same place at around seven in the morning, I addressed you with a brief statement, which lasted only 67 seconds," President Zelensky recalled.

"...we are strong. We are ready for anything. We will beat everyone. This is how it started on February 24, 2022. The longest day of our lives. The hardest day in our history. We woke up very early in the morning and haven't slept since then," he continued.

Western military officials estimate the toll on both sides in Europe's biggest conflict since the Second World War at more than 100.000 people killed or injured.

Tens of thousands of civilians also died, while millions fled their homes to escape the threat of fighting.

"Almost everyone has at least one contact on their cell phone who will never pick up the phone again. He who won't respond to a text 'How are you? These two simple words took on new meaning during the war years," President Zelensky moaned.

Ukrainian forces prevented a quick victory in early 2022, and the conflict in what Moscow calls a "special military operation" has become one of the fiercest trench warfare in the east and south.

With the leaders of both countries showing no signs of backing down, the prospects for ending the fighting any time soon look bleak.

On this occasion, President Zelensky praised the unity and cooperation of the Ukrainian people who are willing to fight together.

"We have become one big squad. We have become a team where someone finds, someone packs, someone brings, but everyone contributes," he said.

Furthermore, President Zelensky described 2022 as a year full of resilience, courage, pain, and unity.

"The main conclusion is, we have survived. We have not been defeated. And we will do everything to win this year!" stressed President Zelensky.

The Ukrainian military reported increased Russian activity in the east and south ahead of the one-year anniversary of the invasion, with at least 25 towns and villages in three northern areas along the Russian border being shelled.

With President Zelensky insisting on withdrawing from Moscow, prospects for peace look bleak.

"We don't know when the war will end. But what we do know is that when the war ends, we need to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"We need to prevent Russia from eroding Europe's security," he said.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden will meet virtually on Friday with G7 leaders and President Zelensky, marking the year anniversary of the invasion.