November 19 is an important symbolic day. It marks 1,000 days since the beginning of the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II—Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
Russia’s premeditated armed aggression against Ukraine began on February 20, 2014, with a military operation by the Russian Armed Forces to seize part of the territory of Ukraine—the Crimean Peninsula.
On February 24, 2022, the President of Russia announced the beginning of the so-called “special military operation” under the pretext of carrying out the so-called “demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.” After that, around four o’clock in the morning, missile strikes were carried out across the entire territory of Ukraine, and Russian troops launched a large-scale invasion of our state, entering from Russia, Belarus, and the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula.
The Russian aggressor violated not only Ukraine’s sovereign borders but also the limits of cruelty and common sense. Russia is endlessly striving for one thing: to destroy Ukrainians. But the spirit of Ukraine remains unbroken. Our people continue to fight bravely for peace and the independence of our homeland, defending our right to exist as a free and democratic nation.
We honor the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives for Ukraine. We express our deepest gratitude to our soldiers, volunteers, and every Ukrainian who, in these difficult times, stands firm in the struggle for our future.
Russia’s genocidal war is an aggression not only against Ukraine but also against the entire international community. Since the first day of the invasion, Russia has been violating the rules of war and international law, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity on a massive scale, killing civilians, destroying infrastructure, and deporting the population.
Russia continues to use food as a weapon, destabilizing global logistics chains. However, despite this, Ukraine is ready to continue to act as a guarantor of global food security. We have made tangible progress in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. We also continue to successfully implement the global humanitarian initiative “Grain from Ukraine.” As part of this initiative, we ship Ukrainian grain to Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Negotiations are currently underway on potential supplies to Chad, Cameroon, Tanzania, and other countries. Ukraine ships not only grain but also wheat flour, corn, and peas.
Russian fascism is the reincarnation of German Nazism—both ideologies are rooted in imperial chauvinism and the belief in the superiority of certain nations over others. Therefore, Russia’s war against Ukraine is not merely a regional conflict but a civilizational one. Democratic Ukraine is waging a war for independence against Russian neo-colonialism, personified by an authoritarian regime that denies the Ukrainian nation its right to exist. Ukraine defends the entire democratic world against attempts to revise the existing world order based on the rule of law. In contrast, Russia seeks to change the balance of power by applying the principle of might over right.
Ukrainians never desired the ongoing unprovoked, unjustified, and criminal Russian war, which reflects the dark forces of imperialism, chauvinism, and colonialism. In this regard, they have always found understanding and support from Rwandans, who, like the entire African continent, have suffered greatly from these dark forces in the past.
In 2024, the world commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Since those tragic events, the Rwandan people have made impressive progress in building a modern, developed, and prosperous state. Rwanda’s example inspires Ukrainians who are fighting for their freedom and independence.
The Ukrainian and Rwandan peoples have endured great trials in the past. Today, this shared history brings them closer together.
We highly appreciate Rwanda’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Rwanda’s participation in the First Global Peace Summit, which took place in June 2024 in Switzerland, is regarded as a valued contribution to the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which is the only realistic way to establish a just and lasting peace. We count on Rwanda’s solidarity with Ukraine in the future.
Ukrainian-Rwandan bilateral relations have been showing positive dynamics. This year, the first meeting between the Presidents of Ukraine and Rwanda took place in Davos, which gave impetus to intensifying cooperation between our countries.
During the 1,000 days of war, Ukraine’s goals remain unchanged and crystal clear. We strive for the complete liberation of all occupied territories, the restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, including the parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, occupied in 2014. Russia must pay compensation for the mass destruction caused to Ukraine. War criminals must be held accountable. Ukraine should receive clear and effective international security guarantees. Russia must be deprived of the capacity for armed aggression in the future. After the war, Ukraine, having undergone reforms, will join European and Euro-Atlantic institutions as a full member, as enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine.
When I see the daily life here in Rwanda, a country that survived a terrible genocide and today stands as one of the most successful and dynamic African nations, as well as a global model for renaissance and restoration, I am confident that recovery and revival await Ukraine very soon.
The Author is Andrii Pravednyk, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Rwanda
