When Russia invaded Ukraine one year ago, in an attempt to re-establish the Russian empire, Putin thought that he was going to be able to roll right over Ukraine. What we have seen is that he was very wrong, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said, commenting on the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

“When Russia invaded Ukraine one year ago, in an attempt to re-establish the Russian empire, Putin thought that he was going to be able to roll right over Ukraine. What we have seen is that he was very wrong. The courage of the Ukrainian people over the last 365 days has shown their determination to defend their sovereignty, to defend their cultural identity, to defend their independence, and freedom.

President Biden, with our partners and allies, has led the international response to Putin’s brutal and unprovoked invasion and attacks against the Ukrainian people. You saw my president was recently in Kyiv, where he said, “Ukraine stands strong, Ukraine stands proud, and most importantly, Ukraine stands free on this anniversary.” It’s a reminder that we must all work as hard as we can, as the United States has been for the last year, to restore peace to this region, to restore respect for the importance of sovereignty, for the importance of sovereign nations being able to maintain their independence and their freedom. That is what is at stake here, and that is why the United States and so many other countries are helping Ukraine to defend its sovereignty, its identity, and its freedom,” she stated.

According to Ambassador, the West is firm and united in its support for Ukraine, as it concerns the defense of freedom, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“I think the vote yesterday on this latest UN Security Council resolution is a clear demonstration that the West remains united against what Putin has launched here, which is a clear effort to reestablish the Russian Empire. Anyone who is imagining that is something that can go forward is fooling themselves because that is a thing of the past. Nations like Georgia rejected that in 1989, and what we are seeing is they were rejected again.

The West is firm and united behind Ukraine because this is about defending freedom. This is about defending independence and sovereignty and territorial integrity: things that are dear to the hearts of Georgians, as well as Americans, as well as Europeans, and Japanese people around the world who believe in freedom and democracy and the rights of people to choose their partners, their allies, and their way of life,” Ambassador Degnan said.