Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a New Year’s video greeting that no one would give his country peace as a gift, but he believed the United States would stand alongside Kyiv as it fights to stop Russia’s 34-month invasion. Zelenskiy emphasized that only a strong Ukraine could secure peace and earn worldwide respect, recalling conversations with outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, and “everyone who supports us in the United States”. He expressed confidence that the new American president wants and will be able to bring peace and end Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression, stating that this is not a street brawl where the two sides need to be pacified, but a full-scale aggression by a deranged state against a civilized one.
Zelenskiy warned that Russia was not to be trusted either in battle or in talks, stating that if today Russia shakes one’s hand, it doesn’t mean that tomorrow the same hand will not start killing you. He also highlighted that Russians fear those who are free, something they don’t understand. Zelenskiy expressed optimism about ensuring continuing U.S. support, saying that Ukraine has endured a difficult year, with Russian forces taking village after village in a quicker advance on the eastern front than since the beginning of the invasion.
In his greeting, Zelenskiy also highlighted Ukraine’s recent military achievements, including launching an incursion into southern Russia’s Kursk region, staging long-range drone strikes against distant Russian targets, and developing domestically produced drones and other weapons. He emphasized that every day, Ukraine must fight to be strong enough, saying that only a strong Ukraine is respected and heard, both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.