On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ambassador Roman Goriainov reflects on the war’s evolution, Ukraine’s resilience, and the global stakes for sovereignty and international order.
Exclusive to The Beiruter: Ukraine’s Ambassador on four years of war
Exclusive to The Beiruter: Ukraine’s Ambassador on four years of war
By Josiane Hajj Moussa | February 24, 2026
Reading time: 7 min
4 years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the war has entered what Ukrainian officials describe as a prolonged and defining phase not only for their country, but for the international order.
In an interview with The Beiruter marking the 4th anniversary, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Roman Goriainov, assessed the evolution of the conflict, the resilience of Ukrainian society, the military reality in 2026, and the broader geopolitical implications for Europe, the Middle East and smaller states navigating an increasingly polarized world.
A conflict dating back prior to 2022
“This war did not start in 2022,” the ambassador said. He described the full-scale invasion as a continuation of Russia’s actions that began in 2014, when Moscow “illegally took over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine,” framing it as part of a longer pattern aimed at preventing Ukraine from charting its own path.
Russia, he said, expected Ukraine to collapse quickly.
But the opposite happened. Ukrainians united. Our government kept functioning, our army defended the country, and society came together to protect our independence.
According to Goriainov, the war has reshaped Europe’s security architecture and demonstrated that peace cannot be preserved by appeasement or yielding to an aggressor. The principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the United Nations Charter, he said, “are not just ideals; they are essential for global stability,” a point he noted is especially meaningful for countries such as Ukraine.
What Russia envisioned as a rapid offensive has, in his view, become a protracted conflict. Moscow failed to overthrow Ukraine’s government, he said, while Kyiv continues to defend its territory, strengthen its defense industry and build international partnerships.
He also underscored the war’s global repercussions, from food security and energy supplies to international politics. Ukraine, he said, has worked to keep grain exports flowing, particularly to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), recognizing their humanitarian importance.
Ukraine’s stated objective remains "a just and lasting peace based on restoring all Ukrainian territory and holding Russia responsible for its aggression.” A frozen conflict, he argued, would not produce stability and would instead risk renewed aggression.
From survival to strategic endurance
For Ukrainians, the 4th anniversary is “above all a day of remembrance and gratitude,” Goriainov said, honoring soldiers, civilians and families whose sacrifices have sustained the country.
On 24 February 2022, shock quickly turned into unity, he said, as people across regions, languages and religious backgrounds chose to defend their independence. At the outset, “victory” meant survival: keeping the state functioning, protecting Kyiv, and preventing the collapse Russia anticipated within days.
4 years on, he said, Ukrainian society has become more experienced and strategic. Victory is no longer defined solely by battlefield outcomes but by restoring territory, ensuring accountability, securing strong guarantees, rebuilding communities, and integrating politically, militarily and economically into Europe.
Resilience, initially spontaneous in 2022, has become institutional, he said. Ukraine has strengthened its military, expanded defense production, stabilized the economy, and maintained democratic institutions despite the war.
Confronting misconceptions
The ambassador identified several persistent international misconceptions. Among them is the notion that the war is a “regional dispute” or a clash between equal sides. “It is a clear act of aggression by a nuclear-armed state against its sovereign neighbor,” he said.
Another misunderstanding, he added, is that the war began in 2022, overlooking the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. He also rejected the idea that Ukraine is merely a proxy in a broader geopolitical rivalry, arguing that Kyiv is fighting for its own freedom and territorial integrity.
The suggestion that war fatigue will push Ukraine to accept a compromise peace, he said, ignores the risks of rewarding territorial conquest. Ukrainian society, he added, has demonstrated unity and civic responsibility across regions and communities.