In 24 days, it will be a year since Russia began its military invasion of Ukraine.
While President Putin called on the people to unite at a large-scale rally held in the capital Moscow, the Ukrainian side is poised to fight back.
Russia has intensified its attacks in an attempt to expand its territory in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, and Ukrainian resistance continues.
Ukrainian President Zelensky said on the 21st that Ukrainian strongholds such as Bakhmut and Liman in Donetsk Oblast were under heavy attack, and said, "Despite strong pressure, we are maintaining the front line. I am,” and once again showed his stance to fight thoroughly.
In the southern province of Kherson, the Russian side continued to bombard it every day, and according to the local governor, two civilians died on the 22nd.
In Russia, February 23 is a holiday honoring military personnel called "Defense of the Fatherland Day", and President Putin made a speech at a large rally held at a stadium in Moscow on the 22nd.
"The most important thing is to protect our families and our motherland. The battle is being fought for us on Russia's historic borders," Putin said at a rally, which Russian media said was attended by 200,000 people. He praised the soldiers participating in the military invasion.
After that, he called on the people to unite, saying, "If we unite, no one can match."
Before the rally, he met with Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo who oversees foreign affairs in China, and said, "I am waiting for President Xi Jinping to visit Russia," expressing his willingness to hold a summit meeting in Russia. showed.
President Putin would like to further strengthen relations with China in order to counter the deepening conflicts between the United States and Europe.