Do you remember how Russian government officials denied having any plans to invade Ukraine one year ago? Reality has shown this to be a tragic lie. On Feb 24, 2022, Russian troops invaded Ukraine in a large-scale attack. Where do we stand 12 months on?
The Russian War was presented as a "special operation" to protect Russian-speaking populations. Twelve months on, its army is breaking international law and committing war crimes against the very people it claimed to defend. France and Germany, together with the international community, will do everything possible to hold Russia accountable for its acts and to fight against impunity.
The so-called "special operation" was supposed to be brief and targeting military installations. A year on, the Russian invasion has caused immense human suffering. This does not limit itself to soldiers being killed on both sides in very high numbers on the frontlines. It also extends to civilians.
Children have been deported away from occupied territories in Ukraine. Russian forces continue to attack the civilian energy infrastructure of Ukraine. As a result, hospitals have to operate without reliable electricity, schools and private homes without light and heating -- all this in the middle of Ukraine's harsh winter.
Eight million Ukrainians have found shelter from the violence abroad. More than five million are internally displaced. For the size of the population of Thailand, this would translate into more than 21 million Thais fleeing their homes! Germany and France have accommodated more than one million Ukrainians. Both countries are enhancing their humanitarian support for Ukraine bilaterally and in the framework of the EU.
Russia expected the Ukrainian army and authorities to collapse. Twelve months on, the Ukrainian nation is more united than ever, and support for President Zelensky is enormous both nationwide and worldwide.
Russia thought its military capabilities would be enough to crush Ukrainian armed forces and discourage the country's people. A year on, the offensive against Kyiv has been repelled, the Kharkiv region and city of Kherson have been liberated. While the Ukrainian army and people demonstrate a remarkable resilience and capacity to resist the aggression, the Russian forces are reduced to using a deluge of fire and sacrificing large number of soldiers to attempt progress.
Russia has had to mobilise an additional 300,000 troops, and is even sending the Wagner Group's criminals and mercenaries to cover the many losses the people of Russia have had to suffer. Hundreds of thousands of Russian men fled to neighbouring countries to escape the draft, which says a lot about how they view the war.
Russia thought no one would dare to assist Ukraine and threatened to use nuclear weapons from the beginning of the invasion. Twelve months on, Ukraine's friends continue to support the country with military supplies. The reason is simple: Russia's attack on Ukraine is an attack on Security in Europe in violation of the UN Charter and the OSCE. If it is not stopped, we are likely to see more attacks on other countries. Russia regularly uses the threat of nuclear escalation, an irresponsible attitude which France and Germany will continue to highlight the danger of.
Russia counted on supposed European weakness. Twelve months on, under three successive presidencies, the EU has remained united in its support for Ukraine, as recently illustrated during President Zelensky's meeting in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and by the exceptional welcome given to him in Brussels by the European Parliament and the European Council.
Both Ukraine and Moldova have been granted candidate status by the EU which has spectacularly reduced its dependence on Russian gas and oil. For the first time in history, the EU has also financed defence arms deliveries via the European Peace Facility (EPF) and is making full geopolitical use of its market power in imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia. France and Germany are at the forefront of the European solidarity.
Russia claimed to be responding to Nato threats. Twelve months on, its attack on Ukraine has shown the world why so many countries were eager to join Nato after 1991: they were just worried about Russian imperialism. Sweden and Finland, with a long tradition of neutrality, applied for membership of Nato. Coordination between Europe, the US and other partners is closer than ever. Within the framework of Nato and in close cooperation with other countries, Germany and France will continue to support Ukraine to exercise its legal right to defend itself from the aggressor.
Russia claimed to be supported by the rest of the world and to be under Western attack. Twelve months on, Russia is being singled out in the UN General Assembly. In March 2022, the UN Resolution ES 11-1 demanded Russia withdraw from Ukraine.
In October 2022, the UN Resolution ES-11-4 condemned its illegal annexations of Ukrainian territory. Only four countries voted against these resolutions together with Russia. The breadth of Ukraine's support base is growing, as illustrated by the countries from all continents, including Asia, that attended the Paris conference on Dec 13, 2022.
Some 47 countries and 24 international organisations committed to provide €1 billion in aid to support Ukraine this winter. Russia claims to represent an alternative world order. Twelve months on, we are seeing the result of its attack on the UN Charter: war and destabilisation of the international order and of the food and energy markets while the world needs balance, connectivity and openness, as wisely reminded by Thailand during its presidency of Apec.
Russia thought it could hide behind the anti-imperialist flag to escape the consequences of its war. Twelve months on, Russian imperialism is visible to a new extent and is causing concerns in its neighbourhood.
Russia thought of limiting its harmful action to territories which it considered its backyard. Twelve months on, Russia's war has worldwide repercussions. Energy and food prices have risen. Farmers all over the world have to pay more for fertilisers.
Governments have to use scarce resources to subsidise fuel prizes. By pushing for a price cap on Russian oil, Germany, France and other countries intend to deprive Russia of revenues used for military purposes, as well as stabilise oil prices.
Russia claims the sanctions against it are a threat to food security, especially in Africa. Twelve months on, the reality is sanctions do not concern agricultural products and Western countries are taking tangible initiatives to fight the devastating consequences of the Russian war for the most vulnerable countries, particularly for food and energy.
Many people ask how the war will end. Nobody knows. But restoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine will be at the heart of peace efforts. The sooner this can be achieved, the better. The aggression from a large state against a smaller neighbour simply must not succeed.
Thierry Mathou is the French Ambassador to Thailand. Georg Schmidt is Ambassador of Germany to Thailand.
