Friday 24 February marks the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. It is difficult to make a provisional assessment of a conflict that is far from over. However, international organisations estimate that military casualties exceed 100,000 on both sides and that at least 7,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed. To escape this tragedy, 8 million Ukrainians have left their country, constituting the largest refugee movement the continent has seen since the Second World War.
On the front line, the fighting in eastern Ukraine is stalling in an apocalyptic landscape. Neither side is prepared to give up the territories currently annexed by Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky intends to recover them thanks to the weapons promised by the United States and Europe, which unanimously support this ambition. On the other hand, Vladimir Putin, in his speech on 21 February, stated that this war was precisely about Russia’s survival in the face of the West, and half-heartedly mentioned the use of nuclear weapons. The stakes in the war in Ukraine are increasing, while the chances of an early resolution are decreasing.
On the occasion of this tragic anniversary, Cartooning for Peace is mobilized, more than ever: more information here.
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