Key Facts
• On January 1, President Zelensky addressed the nation with a New Year’s speech.
• Zelensky stated the peace agreement is 90% complete; remaining 10% crucial to save millions of lives.
• He emphasized refusal to sign a fragile peace deal that risks Ukraine’s future.
• Zelensky said Ukraine seeks war end, not its own end.
• He noted Russia has never ended a war on its own will historically.
• Ukraine will not surrender and calls for strong international pressure on Russia.
• On January 3, working-level peace talks between Ukraine and the U.S. will be held in Ukraine.
• On January 6, Zelensky will meet European leaders in France for further discussions.
Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his January 1 New Year’s address, reaffirmed his desire to end the war with Russia but firmly rejected signing any fragile peace agreement that could jeopardize Ukraine’s sovereignty. He highlighted that while 90% of the peace deal is complete, the remaining 10% is vital to protect millions of lives and ensure lasting peace. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine will not surrender, citing Russia’s historical pattern of never ending wars voluntarily. He urged the international community to apply strong pressure on Russia to achieve a genuine resolution. Upcoming peace negotiations include working-level talks with the United States on January 3 in Ukraine and a summit with European leaders on January 6 in France.
