‘Putin must lose everything’: defiant Zelenskiy hosts western leaders in Kyiv to mark two years of war

📷 Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Belgian PM Alexander De Croo at a wreath-laying in Kyiv. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/AFP/Getty Images

Defiant Zelenskiy welcomes Western leaders to Kyiv to commemorate two years of war, saying, "Putin must lose everything."
Following recent defeats on the battlefield, the president of Ukraine met with the prime ministers of Italy, Canada, and Belgium as a show of togetherness.

On Saturday, the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed western leaders to Kyiv and stated that Vladimir Putin "must lose absolutely everything."

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the prime ministers of Italy, Canada, and Belgium, Giorgia Meloni, Justin Trudeau, and Alexander De Croo, were all met by the president of Ukraine. 

The leaders went to Hostomel Airport, which is close to Kyiv and was taken over by Russian paratroopers at the beginning of Moscow's full-scale assault. Russian attempts to seize the capital were halted by Ukrainian troops, who also took back control of the airfield.

“Two years ago we met enemy troopers here with fire, and two years later, we are meeting our friends, our partners, here,” Zelenskiy said. He added: “Any normal person wants the war to end. But none of us will allow our Ukraine to end”.

Dear great people of a great country, I am immensely proud of each of you. I admire each one of you. I believe in each one of you. Any normal person wants the war to end. But none of us will allow Ukraine to end.

That is why when it comes to ending the war, we always add: on our… pic.twitter.com/MQttTK8Ex2

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2024

 Later, Zelenskiy had a video chat with Joe Biden. The demonstration of support took place during a period when Ukrainian forces have been defeated in combat, most recently losing the eastern city of Avdiivka.

The situation is as dire on a global scale. A US military aid package is being blocked by House Republicans in Washington, DC, and Ukraine is running low on artillery shells and air defense missiles.


Boris Johnson and a group of British MPs from across party lines were among the other guests in Kiev. During a meeting hosted by Ukrainian business magnate Victor Pinchuk, the formerly prime minister expressed his renewed belief that Ukraine could win Russia. 

He claimed that a great number of Russian tanks and men had already been destroyed. He demanded that Kyiv remove the Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to the annexed Crimea. He declared, "I want to blow this one up," calling for democratic nations "to do more" and increase defense spending.

On this grim second anniversary of Putin’s invasion I am honoured to be here in Ukraine. With their indomitable courage I have no doubt that the Ukrainians will win and expel Putin’s forces - provided we give them the military, political and economic help that they need. pic.twitter.com/M6VYgOjOPa

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2024

Johnson expressed confidence that Republicans would approve the $61 billion package for Ukraine that the White House is trying to push through. "I believe the US will ultimately make the right decision after considering all of its options," he said. "Letting Putin win is not in the best interests of US presidents."

Beyond Kyiv, the conflict raged on. For the second night in a row, Russian drones struck the port of Odesa, striking a residential building and killing one person. Two persons were killed by a Russian drone in Dnipro.

Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine's national security adviser, asserted that his troops shot down a Russian A-50 military espionage plane on Friday. According to him, it was the second time in a month that an A-50 had been destroyed. "They were numbering six. They have four now," he remarked.


Danilov expressed dissatisfaction over Kyiv's lack of long-range systems, such the German Taurus missile, which would have allowed it to strike Russian sites located well to the rear.

"We had to use a Soviet rocket to bring down the spy plane. It was older than me, he said