Fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine

correspondent | Monday March 2, 2026 10:24

 

For the fifth consecutive year, the aggressor state has carried out continuous large-scale attacks against Ukraine, targeting the civilian population and civilian infrastructure of Ukraine.

After four years of war, 2026 must be the year the aggression on Ukraine comes to an end. Four years during which Russia deliberately chose to violate the UN Charter, Human rights, and the Geneva Conventions. This unjustified war is the result of neocolonial aspirations from a once-powerful empire that desperately seeks to restore a long-lost sense of greatness by subjugating independent states through force.

This war reflects Russian coercive practices, including intimidation, forced dependencies, and the weaponisation of resources, such as energy, food, critical raw materials, and water, amongst others. It has disrupted food and energy markets, exacerbated poverty, strained international cooperation, and diverted attention and resources from shared global challenges.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has profound consequences for Africa. It disrupts global food and fertiliser supplies, caused by the blockade of Ukrainian sea ports and the weaponisation of grain exports, which has exacerbated food insecurity across the African continent. This is an existential fight between a warmongering neighbour and a smaller nation defending its sovereignty, existence, and identity. Ukraine stands and fights boldly for its right to self-determination and sovereignty. Ukraine defies the unlawful invasion of its territory by its neighbour. The continuous occupation of regions of Ukraine already started in 2014 and has raged since 2022.

We advocate for peace and stand by Botswana’s stance of March 2, 2022. That day, Botswana made history in Southern Africa and condemned Russia’s aggression at the United Nations by supporting the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. We know that Botswana respects and values the principles of sovereignty and self-determination that are pillars of its foreign policy.

The sooner this war ends with a just and lasting peace, the sooner global attention and resources can be refocused. Predictability and stability in international relations are essential public goods, especially in a world facing multiple, overlapping crises.

Ukraine has consistently sought peace. If Russia stops its aggression, then the war will immediately stop, and if Ukraine ceases its defence, it will be the end of Ukraine. If aggression is rewarded, then international law becomes optional, leaving law-abiding states exposed to coercion by force.