Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy kicked off the new year with a stark message of resolve, telling his nation and the world:
“What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No,” he said.
“We want the end of the war – not the end of Ukraine. Are we tired? Extremely. Does that mean we are ready to capitulate? Those who think so are deeply mistaken.”
“Ukraine is doing everything for peace”
Despite the ongoing fighting, Zelenskyy insisted that Kyiv had exhausted all avenues to ensure peace.
“But with a clear conscience, I, all of us, can say that Ukraine is really doing everything for peace,” he said.
Peace deal ‘90% ready’
Zelenskyy noted that the US-backed peace framework is almost complete, although critical details remain unresolved.
“The peace agreement is 90% ready,” he said.
“This is the 10 percent that determines the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live. Ten percent to save millions of lives. Ten percent of the determination needed to make peace work 100 percent. Ten percent of the unity and wisdom so desperately needed – Ukrainian, American, European, from all over the world.”
Get on the phone with Trump’s emissary
The speech came shortly after Zelenskyy spoke with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss practical steps to advance the peace process and strengthen Ukraine’s security.
“We focused on how to move discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of the @POTUS peace process,” Witkoff wrote on X.
“This includes strengthening security safeguards and developing effective de-confliction mechanisms to help end war and ensure it does not start again.”
Russia attacks as talks continue
Even as peace talks continued, Russia celebrated the New Year by launching some 205 drones across the border, killing at least two people, according to the Ukrainian military. Moscow also renewed claims that Ukraine tried to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin during a drone strike in December.
Ukraine denies the assassination allegations
Ukraine has denied the allegations, with the CIA reportedly confirming they were false.
Zelensky’s determination
As the new year began amid renewed bombing, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s resolve.
“Those who still doubt us,” he said, “have not understood who Ukrainians are.”
