When I arrived in Kigali in April 2022 to present my credentials to President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, the full-scale war of aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, had already been going on for several months. It was, without exaggeration, one of the most difficult periods in the history of Ukraine. Therefore, it was extremely important to hear Rwanda’s clear position which consisted in a strong condemnation Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Almost three years have passed since Russia launched its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, which became the expansion of Russia’s armed aggression that has been ongoing since 19 February, 2014. The dynamics of the war over these years are very indicative. In 2022 Ukraine liberated 40% of its territory temporarily occupied by Russia since 24 February 2022 and in total 28% of the temporarily occupied by Russia Ukrainian territory since 2014. In 2023 Ukraine stopped total dominance of Russia in the Black Sea thus opening a transport corridor for the supply of Ukrainian grain under the humanitarian program “Grain from Ukraine” to the countries that need it most. In 2024 Ukraine transferred the war to the enemy’s territory by launching Kursk operation.
Today the situation on the frontline remains difficult. The aggressor still has an advantage in manpower, certain types of weapons and military equipment and carries out daily attacks with drones and missiles, killing peaceful residents of Ukrainian cities and villages. However, Russia is paying a heavy price for advancing on every meter of Ukrainian land – about 1 500 people killed and wounded every day.
Despite such heavy losses, Russia is not preparing for peace. Itdoesn’t want the war to end fairly. Instead, it wants to destroycompletely Ukraine’s freedom and independence. It continues to accumulate troops and increases its military production tocommit the mass war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide, murder of civilians, torture and execution of prisoners of war.
Simultaneously, Russia is supposedly demonstrating its readiness for “negotiations”. But what are the negotiations about? About a “new Yalta”? About new borders and the establishment of new spheres of influence, as in the times of the notorious Berlin Conference of 1884–1885? If Russia were to succeed in implementing its misanthropic aggressive intentions, it would send a clear message to all despots and tyrants on the planet that brutal violence and military aggression wins, and that the “new colonial era” is coming back.
For the sake of a secure civilized world, the aggressor’s all illegitimate demands must be rejected. And Ukraine is doing everything possible to ensure that 2025 becomes a year of just and lasting peace for our country and the world. Ukrainianswant to end this war more than anyone else. But it must be real peace not appeasement of the aggressor. Ukraine is open to diplomacy, but only to the one that leads to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
Right now Ukraine needs unity and support from all our partners to end this war. We are grateful to all countries, including Rwanda, for supporting Ukraine in achieving this goal on the basis the “peace through strength” approach. For this purpose, Ukraine significantly strengthened its defense potential. The capacities of the Ukrainian defense industry have increased 6-fold in the past year alone. At the same time, Ukraine is grateful for every support package from our partners. We need a stable and timely supply of all types of weapons and ammunition in larger quantities to ensure that the aggressor has no chance to continue his illigal actions.
A just and lasting peace requires real security guarantees for Ukraine. The only realistic way to achieve this goal has been and remains the Peace Formula, initiated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Peace Formula has a global meaning, because essentially it addresses the issue of preventing return of war as a dominant instrument of international politics in the XXI century.
Peace in Ukraine is possible only on the basis of respect for the UN Charter in its all entirety, including the full respect for theUkraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. We will never recognize any other outcome of possible peace negotiations.
Concluding my diplomatic mission to Rwanda and lookingback over the past three years, I am pleased to see Rwanda onthe right side of history. The Rwandan leadership steadfastly adheres to the position it expressed three years ago, at the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. I am also grateful to our Rwandan partners for walking hand by hand in strenthening our bilateral relations.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Rwandan leadership and all Rwandans for their support of Ukraine during this difficult and fateful time for my country.
Andrii Pravednyk, The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Rwanda.
