2022 was undoubtedly a year of major international news, though dominated by Russias brutal war in Ukraine.

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a significant world story, the availability of vaccines and therapeutics has helped ease its toll in many countries. Even China started easing some restrictions for the first time since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, protests, climate disasters and big political events made headlines. Heres a recap of the biggest stories that happened outside the U.S. this year.

Vladimir Putins War On Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Putin originally expected the war would be easily won by Russia, underestimating the force with which the Ukrainian people would fight back to protect their country as well as the degree of support they would receive from allies around the world.

The international community displayed solidarity by applying strong sanctions against Moscow and providing crucial military and financial help to Kyiv.

The U.S. alone has contributed significantly to Ukraines efforts. A new spending bill by the U.S. Congress includes an additional $44 billion in emergency funding for the country. If the package passes, the total amount of support the U.S. will have provided to Ukraine since the war began will top $100 billion, according to The New York Times .

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also became an international symbol of fearless resistance to Russias aggression.

Zelenskyy visited Washington, D.C., on Wednesday his first international trip since the war began. He addressed lawmakers in a rare joint session of Congress , expressing gratitude to the U.S. for its continued support and noting how crucial its been in the fight against Russia.

Your money is not charity. Its an investment in global security and diplomacy that we handle in the most responsible way, Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader also participated in a press conference alongside President Joe Biden at the White House, where Biden pledged to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

While Ukraine has made significant gains in the conflict, by recapturing areas previously occupied by Russia in a successful counteroffensive this fall, Putin appears determined to keep fighting despite the embarrassing showing on the battlefield.