The King stated that the Ukrainian people had “suffered unimaginably from an unprovoked, full-scale attack on their nation.”
In a message commemorating the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the Monarch praised the Ukrainian people’s “truly remarkable courage.”
Charles, who met with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month, expressed his hope that the global outpouring of support would provide “strength from the awareness that, together, we stand united.”
“It has been a year since the unprovoked, full-scale assault on the Ukrainian people,” he said in a statement.
“In the face of such human tragedy, they have demonstrated genuinely remarkable courage and resiliency.
“The world has witnessed with dismay all of the needless suffering inflicted upon Ukrainians, many of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting in the United Kingdom and, in fact, around the world, from Romania to Canada.
“It is encouraging to see that the United Kingdom and its allies are doing everything possible to assist in this most trying time.
“Therefore, I can only hope that the global outpouring of solidarity will bring not only tangible aid but also the fortitude that comes from knowing that we stand united.”
The statement is the first significant comment by a British Monarch on the Ukraine conflict.
Throughout her 70-year reign, his mother, the late Queen, avoided making direct comments on political matters.
When she met Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau in March 2022, a large bouquet in the colors of Ukraine, blue and yellow, sparked much speculation.
She also extended her “warmest greetings” on Ukraine’s annual Independence Day in August of last year, which she characterized as “this most challenging year.”
The King’s statement follows his meeting with President Zelenskyy earlier this month, during the wartime leader’s first visit to the United Kingdom since the Russian invasion of his country began.
In the 1844 Room of Buckingham Palace, Charles greeted the president with a broad smile and a warm handshake, expressing his pleasure to meet him.
“We’ve all been concerned about you and your country for a very long time,” the Monarch said.
On Friday, a defiant Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainians had proven to be “invincible” while attending an open-air parade and memorial service in central Kyiv to commemorate one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On a day of remembrance and defiance, the Ukrainian president presented awards to surviving soldiers and the spouses and daughters of fallen “heroes” in front of St Sophia Cathedral in the capital.
He characterized the previous year as one of “pain, anguish, faith, and unity.”
Earlier, the leader of Ukraine, who has remained steadfast alongside his people in the resistance against Vladimir Putin’s invading forces, stated in a video message, “We are prepared for anything. Everyone will lose to us.
Sitting behind a desk and recalling his address to Ukrainians one year prior, he characterized February 24, 2022, as “the longest day of our lives, the most difficult day in our recent history.”
“We rose early and haven’t slept since,” he said.
In a separate tweet, he stated: “On February 24, millions of us made a decision. Not a white flag, but a blue and yellow one. Not running away, but confronting. Fighting and resisting.
“It was a year of suffering, grief, faith, and cohesion. And this year, we remained unbeatable.
“We are confident that 2023 will be our year of victory!”
He uploaded his comments alongside a video reflecting on the first twelve months of the bloody conflict, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians.
It depicted families torn apart and in tears, the destruction of cities, and the memorialization of the war deceased.
However, it also praised the “courage” of the Ukrainian people in the face of the invading forces and anticipated a year of “hope, endurance, and invincibility.”
