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What happened around the invasion's first anniversary?
Summary
A look back at tanks, a Chinese position paper and protests that marked one year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
What did the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine look like on the ground and in diplomacy? On 25 February 2023, the day after the anniversary itself, the picture was shaped by reports from 23 and 24 February covering military aid, a Chinese diplomatic initiative and demonstrations in many countries.
Tanks arrive from Poland
On 24 February 2023, Poland delivered the first Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, as reported at the time. The delivery was part of the military aid sent to Ukraine during the war.
China sets out a position
Also on 24 February, China unveiled a 12-point position paper on ending the war in Ukraine. It came ahead of an expected speech on the conflict by President Xi Jinping. Ukraine said it hoped China could urge Russia to withdraw its troops in response to the paper.
Protests at home and abroad
Protests took place in countries around the world to mark the anniversary, and major landmarks were lit up. In Russia, anti-war activists were detained as protesters marked one year since the invasion.
A day earlier, on 23 February 2023, pro-Ukraine protesters in Washington, D.C. confronted visitors heading to the Russian embassy.
Taken together, the reports from those days show military support, diplomatic positioning and public demonstrations converging on the anniversary.
