The American Embassy sponsored the art exhibit "The Womanly Face of War" to mark the second anniversary of Russia's re-invasion of Ukraine. The exhibit, curated by Ukrainian artist Olesya Drashkaba, was first launched in Limassol and is now being unveiled in Nicosia.
In collaboration with Sunseed Art and Resilient Ukraine, the exhibit aims to highlight the human impact of Russian aggression on Ukrainian civilians. Ambassador Fisher noted that "Vladimir Putin believed that he could easily bend the will and break the resolve of a free people," but instead faced resistance from Ukrainians and unity from Western nations.
President Biden recently announced over 500 new sanctions against Russia for its ongoing war efforts and for Aleksey Navalny's death. The U.S. is also imposing export restrictions on entities supporting Russia's military operations and working to reduce Russia's energy revenues.
Europe has significantly reduced its reliance on Russian oil, while U.S. liquified natural gas exports have increased, helping European partners decrease their dependence on Russian gas from 40% to 13%.
Ambassador Fisher acknowledged Cyprus' support for Ukraine through financial aid, humanitarian assistance, training in landmine clearing, and efforts to counter illicit finance linked to Russia. Over 26,000 Ukrainians arrived in Cyprus following Russia’s invasion, with nearly 18,000 receiving temporary protection.
Despite challenges, Ukraine has reclaimed more than half of the territory initially seized by Russian forces and resumed grain exports from Black Sea ports. Ambassador Fisher praised Ukrainian artists for using their creativity as a form of resilience amidst adversity.
The United States remains committed to supporting Ukraine militarily, economically, and democratically as it continues its struggle against Kremlin aggression.