We will not comment on the latter, even though Ukraine wholeheartedly wishes every success to the ongoing peace process involving several parties and facilitators. And of course, we will not react to any of the allegations in the above manipulative article, none of which have anything to do with reality. And it is difficult not to notice the striking similarities between all its deceptions and the lies spread by the Russian propaganda machine, aimed at undermining the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people against Russia's unprovoked aggression â€" a barbaric crime and fatal blunder that have become the greatest in its history.
Yet, to prevent Rwandan readers from being misled by that article, we feel compelled to recall several well-established facts about Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, which began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea â€" a sovereign part of Ukraine â€" and escalated on 24 February 2022 into a full-scale invasion.
By launching its aggression against Ukraine, Russia has blatantly violated all most fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter.
Any violation of a sovereign state's sovereignty and territorial integrity is a grave affront to international law and cannot be justified under any circumstances. Yet, even if one looks at the justifications for that aggression put forward by Russia â€" such as preventing NATO expansion or protecting the Russian-speaking population in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine â€" it is easy to understand that these justifications are totally false.
When Finland and Sweden joined the North Atlantic Alliance in 2023 and 2024, respectively, Russia did not move a single platoon to prevent NATO expansion. On the contrary, it relocated the bulk of its troops stationed near those new NATO member states to the front line in Ukraine.
Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine have never faced discrimination due to their language or for any other reason. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions enjoyed a peaceful life before Russia decided to 'protect' them. Now, they are largely depopulated, completely in ruins, with no hope for a return to normal life in sight.
The real 'root cause' of Russia's aggression is Ukraine itself â€" its independence, its determination to shape its own future, and its rejection of its former colonial masters in the Kremlin. The overwhelming majority of members of the international community fully understand what is at stake in this war â€" including African countries, which themselves had to fight for freedom and independence. The entire world applauds the Ukrainian people's heroic resistance under the leadership of President Zelenskyy.
Ukraine simply has no other choice than to defend itself against the brutal invader. But of course, no one strives more for peace than Ukraine itself. Ukraine has always tried to find a diplomatic way of achieving peace. As far back as 2022, President Zelenskyy presented 10-point Peace Formula to restore a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, based on respect to the international law and the UN Charter.
Ukraine has also fully embraced and supported the U.S. Administration's recent peace efforts, including its proposal for a thirty-day ceasefire starting on May 12, 2025, as a first step toward restoring peace.
Both Ukraine and the international community continue to wait for Russia to reciprocate.
This bloodiest war in Europe since World War II has already caused immense bloodshed and tremendous suffering in Ukraine, while also having a significant negative impact on many regions of the world, including Africa. It appears that only Russia is interested in continuing it.
We trust that Rwandan readers can judge for themselves whether there are any similarities between this war and the conflict in the Great Lakes region. However, it remains crucial not to encourage the spread of falsehoods that directly or indirectly support Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine.
The Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Rwanda
Ukraine Embassy in Rwanda
