Three-year fight foiled Putin's three-day Ukraine takeover plan, Duda says
Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to take over Ukraine in three days but has failed to accomplish it in three years, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an address streamed online in Kyiv on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion.
Leaders from across the world gathered in Kyiv on Monday in a show of support for Ukraine on the third anniversary of its fight against invading Russian forces.
"Today's event is extremely important because it's taking place in a free and proud Kyiv," Duda said. "Putin wanted to take over Ukraine in three days but he has failed to do so even in three years and will never be able to do it."
He vowed Poland will continue to be a leader in supporting Ukraine.
"Therefore I want to assure you that you can count on Poland and that we'll never leave a democratic and independent Ukraine," Duda said.
"We'll also continue our consistent policy towards Russia," he added.
Duda also said that "we all want peace, but the peace that we want must be just, durable and based on security guarantees."
"What's more, Ukraine must be represented from the very start of official negotiations," he continued. "Otherwise, a short-lived peace will quickly turn into another war, perhaps an even more bloody one." (PAP)
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