Statement by Employers' Group President on the Fourth Anniversary of Russia’s Aggression Against Ukraine

24 February 2026 – Today marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Four years of devastation, but also four years of courage, resistance and unbroken resolve from the Ukrainian people.

What began as an attempt to erase a sovereign nation has become a defining test of Europe’s unity and our shared commitment to peace, freedom and democracy. 

From day one, Europe has stood firmly by Ukraine. Our financial and military support has enabled Ukraine to keep its institutions running, its services operating, and its economy alive despite the brutal war.

Opening the EU Single Market to Ukrainian goods and services has been one of our strongest acts of solidarity. It has kept trade flowing, supported employment, and allowed Ukrainian businesses to begin integrating into European value chains. We have shown that recovery begins with partnership and that Ukraine’s future lies within the European family.

Under our former President Stefano Mallia, our Group quickly engaged Ukrainian business partners, demonstrating that reconstruction is done not only through institutions, but through relationships — employer to employer, business to business, society to society. This spirit of collaboration will drive Ukraine’s integration and recovery.

As we mark this anniversary, we must look ahead with the same clarity and determination that guided our first response. Solidarity is essential, but not enough. We must now work more actively towards a credible and lasting peace settlement. Political predictability and security remain the foundations on which reconstruction and private investment can truly thrive.

We must also move from commitment to implementation. Fully operationalising the Ukraine Facility, especially its investment pillar, will be crucial to mobilising blended finance and unlocking new opportunities for public and private partners. 

The same applies to energy: integrating Ukraine’s energy market with the EU, through investment in grid connections and cross-border capacity, will support industrial recovery and strengthen Europe’s energy security.

Supporting cooperation in the defence industry to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience while enhancing Europe’s own security must become an urgent priority for us all. Russia’s continued targeting of civilian and energy infrastructure, particularly amid the harsh winter months, reminds us that this war is not only fought on the battlefield, but against the daily lives and dignity of millions.

We also need to invest in connectivity, the infrastructure that links Ukraine with the European Union. Expanding border-crossing capacity will sustain trade, mobility and the reconstruction logistics on which recovery depends.

And as we continue this work, let us also reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s path towards EU membership. The European Economic and Social Committee was the first EU institution to publicly endorse this goal, and we stand by it today with the same conviction. Ukraine belongs in the European Union, politically, economically, and in spirit.

Four years on, the courage of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire us. It reminds us that freedom, when defended together, not only grows stronger — it endures.

By Sandra Parthie, EESC Employers' Group President.