Leaders from around Europe expressed solidarity with Ukraine on Friday, offering messages of support and resolve on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

Rishi Sunak: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak led the UK in a “national moment of reflection” joined by wife Akshata Murty, as the first couple hung a blue and yellow wreath in the colours of the Ukrainian flag on the door of 10 Downing Street on Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The British leader was accompanied by military personnel in Downing Street for the one-minute national silence at 11 am GMT to pay tribute to the “bravery and courage” of the Ukrainians who have been fighting on the frontlines since the conflict began on February 24 last year.

Nato: The 30 member countries of the Nato alliance vowed “solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defense of their nation, their land and our shared values.” Russia bears “full responsibility for this war, a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter,” the allies said.

EU: “Ukraine is part of our European family,” the European Council, a governing body of the bloc, said in a statement. Ukraine was formally granted EU candidate status last year. “Ukrainians have expressed their wish for a future within the EU, and we have acknowledged that by granting Ukraine the status of candidate country,” the statement on Friday went on.

Estonia: Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, speaking at a news conference with Von der Leyen and Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, praised Ukrainian courage and said that “the free world needs to show the same courage and support to Ukraine until the last Russian soldier has left Ukraine.”

She added: “If we fall for Russia’s threats, we will wake up in much more dangerous world.”

New York Times News Service and PTI