The last year has been a telling one, proving to the world that the boundaries of the possible can melt before our eyes. Find out how international support and Ukraine itself have changed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion

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The Ukrainian government and Ukrainians in particular have made possible what was unimaginable a year ago. The support the country is receiving today is unprecedented in world history. In addition, the path that the state has traveled during the war proves that there is nothing impossible.

Is war impossible in the 21st century?

February 2022 was a blow to stability and confidence in the future for the whole world. Partner countries warned the Ukrainian authorities about the planned invasion by russia and did not give any comforting comments on the unfolding of this offensive. However, despite calls from international leaders that Ukraine's president should leave for safety, Zelenskyy responded: "I need a gun, not a taxi." This was the first "impossible" step for the global elite.

International partners were betting that Ukraine would hold out for two weeks, preparing schemes to hand over NLAW and Javelins to Ukrainian partisans, and massively moving their embassies out of Kyiv. However, the struggle has been going on for over a year, and the second "impossible" step was the liberation of Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions from the russian invaders. The courageous, decisive and united actions of Ukrainian defenders and civilians have proved that Ukraine can not only withstand a giant state, but also win.

And today, the Ukrainian army is armed with Leopard tanks, HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, state-of-the-art Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems, and long-range Storm Shadow missiles, while Ukrainian pilots are learning to fly American F-16 fighters. Moreover, the embassies of the United States and Sweden are announcing new vacancies in Ukraine.

Is russia's isolation impossible?

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Western partners were not very active in imposing sanctions against russia, emphasizing that it is a strategically important partner for the whole world. However, today, russian banks are disconnected from SWIFT, a ceiling has been set on the price of oil, and Europe is actively working to reduce its long-standing energy dependence on russian gas. Moreover, russia has been recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism, and putin is a war criminal who faces arrest if he appears in almost all countries of the world. 

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Is economic stability impossible during the war?

Despite the difficult financial situation in the country, the Ukrainian economy has not collapsed. The banking system has survived, the government continues to pay salaries and pensions, and the hryvnia, although devalued, is still the main means of payment. This ultimately led to an increase in the level of trust in the Ukrainian authorities on the part of international partners and the provision of systematic and regular financial support.

Today, the last financial "impossible" remains - developing a legal way to confiscate russian assets and property of russian oligarchs for further transfer to Ukraine for the restoration and reconstruction of the state. However, Western partners are already actively working on this issue.

Is it impossible to join the EU and NATO during the war?

Although it may seem impossible, the war has become an impetus for Ukraine's rapid development. Today, the country is a candidate country and is one step away from starting negotiations on joining the EU. Moreover, world leaders and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in particular, are actively discussing the conditions for Ukraine's membership in NATO. Besides, some measures have already been taken to bring Ukraine's military system closer to international standards.

However, in fact, Ukraine has already gained European freedoms. After all, Ukrainian refugees are free to work and move between EU countries, goods from Ukraine are sold without import duties and tariff quotas, the Ukrainian power grid has been integrated into the European system, Ukrainian trucking companies move freely across Europe and do not need to obtain special permits, the Ukrainian language has been included in the EU's official translation system, and Ukrzaliznytsia is likely to merge with the TEN-T network in the near future. 

Before the war, Ukraine and the European Union had not even considered such a rapid development. But today, it is not an "impossibility" but only a matter of consistent implementation of clear steps.

Thus, Ukraine and Ukrainians have proven that they are worthy of international recognition. And today, the country is decisively entering the international arena as an opinion leader and the one who makes the impossible possible!

We remind you! European media have different approaches to covering topics related to events in Ukraine, and some media have clear traces of russian propaganda. We talked about the mood in the European information space and who is most susceptible to the narratives promoted by russia here.

Photo: Depositphotos

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