No surrender. No weak peace. Zelenskyy draws firm red lines in New Year address to the world.
In his New Year message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that while Ukraine wants peace, it will not accept peace at the cost of its sovereignty.
“What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No,” Zelenskyy said. “We want an end to the war, but not the end of Ukraine.”
He acknowledged the exhaustion felt across the country but firmly rejected any talk of surrender. “Are we tired? Very. Does that mean we are ready to give up? Anyone who believes that is deeply mistaken.”
Zelenskyy warned that weak compromises only prolong conflict. “Any signature placed on a weak agreement only fuels the war. My signature will be placed only on a strong agreement.”
According to him, current diplomatic efforts are focused on achieving a lasting settlement, not a temporary pause. “Every meeting, every phone call, every decision now is about securing a strong peace — not for a day, a week, or two months, but for years.”
He also referenced ongoing negotiations, noting that U.S. President Donald $TRUMP, speaking from Florida, claimed talks were close to completion. “A peace agreement is 90% ready,” Trump said, adding that the remaining 10% “contains everything” and will determine the future of peace — not just for Ukraine, but for Europe as well.
At the heart of the unresolved issues remains territory.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a familiar wartime tone in his own New Year address, telling troops on the front lines that Moscow still believes it will prevail, even as the war enters another year.
While one can hope that this year brings peace and prosperity to both nations, recent developments — including Russia’s claims surrounding an attack on Putin’s residence and the reactions that followed — suggest that the chances of securing a ceasefire anytime soon appear increasingly slim.$BTC $
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