Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we continue to witness a brutal war of aggression that costs lives, displaces families and threatens the security of our continent. Ukraine is defending not only itself but also European freedom. Russia’s aggression challenges the principles on which the European order rests: sovereignty, territorial integrity and the rule of law. The invasion has reshaped European defence policy, accelerated military spending, strengthened NATO’s eastern flank and exposed vulnerabilities in energy dependence, disinformation and collective security.

Ukraine is home to centuries of Jewish life, with a rich history deeply woven into the fabric of the country and in cities such as Odesa, Kyiv and Lviv. Today, Jewish communities continue to live under the shadow of war. Synagogues, schools and community centres have had to adapt to sirens and uncertainty, while young Jewish Ukrainians serve in the army, volunteer, rebuild and support their communities. We stand in solidarity with Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, its civil society and its Jewish communities. For European Jewish students, solidarity with Ukraine means defending democracy, international law and the right of people to live safely in their own country. On this anniversary, we remember the victims and call for accountability.

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