24 February 2026: Why Ukraine matters to the world 

Four years ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. What many believed would be a short war has become a protracted conflict with immense human suffering and far-reaching global consequences. As we mark this anniversary, one message is clear: 2026 must be the year this aggression ends.

Ukraine fights not only for its own survival but for the very principles that bind us together and are enshrined in the UN Charter and International Law; sovereignty, freedom, and the rule of law.

The Ukrainian people have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of relentless attacks on cities, energy systems and civilian infrastructure. They deserve peace — not a pause or a frozen conflict, but a just and lasting peace.

Why this war matters in Ghana

But why does this matter in Accra, Tamale or Takoradi? This is not just a distant European dispute. It had and still has direct and painful consequences across Africa — including in Ghana.

Households and farmers have felt the pain when fertiliser costs doubled and bread prices rocketed as Ukrainian Black Sea ports were blockaded.

The World Bank estimates that the war has pushed roughly an additional 100 million people into poverty than before the war. Many of them live in developing and conflict-affected regions, including parts of Africa.

There is also a troubling human dimension. Africans have reportedly been recruited into the Russian army under false pretences, promised jobs or opportunities, only to find themselves sent to the frontlines to fight, be subjected to and traumatised by appalling mistreatment, and die in a foreign war. No African citizen should be misled into becoming a pawn in Russia’s war of aggression.

Russia’s disinformation campaigns have also impacted on people, including in West Africa. Manipulated narratives which exploit legitimate grievances erode trust in democratic institutions, inflame tensions and undermine informed public debate.

Principles that protect all states

At its core, this war concerns universal principles. The UN Charter enshrines sovereignty, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes. For all countries that fought hard for independence, the principle that borders cannot be changed by force is fundamental.

If aggression is rewarded or normalised, sovereignty becomes negotiable. If one country can redraw borders through force, others may be tempted to try. A just and lasting peace in Ukraine is therefore essential not only for Ukrainians, but for the credibility of the international system.

No peace arrangement can be sustainable without Ukraine at the table. And no settlement affecting European security can succeed without Europe’s full engagement. Experience shows that rushed or weak deals lacking credible security guarantees risk renewed aggression.

A shared interest in a just peace

The repercussions of this war extend far beyond Europe. It has disrupted food and energy markets, fuelled inflation and deepened global uncertainty at a time when many regions, including Africa, face debt distress, climate shocks and security crises. The sooner this war ends with a just and lasting peace, the sooner international attention and resources can refocus on these issues

Ghana has long been a respected voice for multilateralism and international law. On this anniversary, we are reminded that defending sovereignty and territorial integrity is a shared responsibility — and that how this war ends will shape the international order for years to come.

We reiterate our commitment to any credible path toward peace based on the UN Charter.

This article was co-authored by Frederik Landshöft (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany), Christian Rogg (High Commissioner of the United Kingdom), Diarra Dimé Labille (Ambassador of the French Republic), John Mikal Kvistad (Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway), Rune Skinnebach (Ambassador of the European Union) and Ivan Lukachuk (Ambassador of Ukraine).

It is also signed by  Ángel Lossada Torres-Quevedo (Ambassador of Spain) Carole van Eyll (Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium), Hiroshi Yoshimoto (Ambassador of Japan), Jakob Linulf (Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark), Jeroen Verheul (Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Jürgen Heissel (Ambassador of the Republic of Austria), Laura Ranalli (Ambassador of the Italian Republic), Myriam Montrat (High Commissioner of Canada), Pavel Bílek (Ambassador of the Czech Republic), Simone Giger (Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation).

 

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