'We want end to war, but not end of Ukraine': Zelensky rejects weak deal in New Year address

Kyiv/Moscow: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared in his New Year address that while the nation craves peace, it will not accept a "weak" agreement that threatens the country's existence.

Speaking to the nation as the war enters its fourth year, Zelensky revealed that a peace deal is "90 per cent ready" following weeks of US-led diplomacy, including recent talks with US President Donald Trump in Florida. However, he stressed that the final 10 per cent contains the most critical decisions regarding the fate of Ukraine and Europe.

“What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No,” Zelensky stated. “We want an end to the war but not the end of Ukraine.”

The President acknowledged the profound exhaustion of the Ukrainian people but firmly rejected the notion of capitulation. He warned that any signature placed on a weak agreement without credible guarantees would only fuel further conflict rather than resolve it.

The primary deadlock remains territorial control. While Kyiv seeks to freeze the front lines at their current positions, Moscow has demanded a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas region, parts of which Russian forces have not yet captured. Zelensky dismissed these demands as "deception" and criticised diplomatic efforts that ignore reality.

Conversely, Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year address to project resolve. Speaking to troops he described as "heroes," Putin expressed confidence in Moscow’s eventual victory. "We believe in you and our victory," he told soldiers, as the conflict stretches into 2026 with approximately 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation.

(Inputs from IANS)