MORE than a dozen senior European officials were in the Ukrainian capital Kiev today for a show of support on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has led to tens of thousands of deaths.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed defiance, insisting that Russia has not “broken Ukrainians” nor triumphed in the war.

“Looking back at the beginning of the invasion and reflecting on today, we have every right to say: we have defended our independence, we have not lost our statehood,” he said in a social media post, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “not achieved his goals.”

As the fighting enters its fifth year, a US-led diplomatic push to end the conflict appears no closer to finding a peace deal.

Negotiations are stuck on what happens to the Donbass, eastern Ukraine’s industrial heartland, which is mostly occupied by Russian forces, and the terms of a postwar security arrangement that Kiev is demanding to deter any future Russian invasion.

Moscow has always insisted that no deal to end the conflict can be reached without halting the Nato military alliance’s eastward expansion.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today: “The unchecked expansion of Nato right up to our borders, including Ukraine, has become one of the fundamental causes of the current conflict. 

“Until this issue is addressed, a resolution is impossible. Russia will pursue its objectives through both military and political avenues.”

The Russians also now accuse Britain and France of intending to supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service had obtained information that London and Paris believe that “Kiev would be able to aspire to more advantageous terms of ceasing the hostilities” if it possesses nuclear weapons. 

The alleged plans involve a covert transfer of European-made components, equipment and technologies to Ukraine. The French small-sized TN-75 warhead from the M51.1 submarine-launched ballistic missile is allegedly being considered as an option. 

Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev said today that such action would make Britain and France targets for Russia.

“There cannot be a shred of doubt that, in this case, Russia would have to use all weapons, including non-strategic nuclear ones, to strike targets in Ukraine that pose a threat to our country,” Mr Medvedev said.

“And if necessary, in the supplying countries as well, as they become accomplices in the nuclear conflict with Russia.”