Ukraine spent 1,407 days under fire — and Zelenskyy says in his News Year’s address surrender is not an option

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In his third wartime New Year’s Eve address, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that peace is within reach — but far from guaranteed — and stressed that “ten percent” of the peace agreement still under discussion carries the weight of Ukraine’s future. The President’s Office published the address late on 31 December 2025.

Zelenskyy: “Ten percent to peace”

US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a Kyiv-Moscow peace agreement, which Russia is very unlikely to accept. Zelenskyy began his address, by claiming:

“The peace agreement is 90% ready. Ten percent remains. And that is far more than just numbers.”

He explained that these last steps represent the hardest decisions, those that “will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live.”

He urged Ukrainians to face the truth without illusions.

“What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No. We want the end of the war – not the end of Ukraine.” 

Emphasizing the toll of the prolonged invasion, he said,

“A people who have held on through 1,407 days of a full-scale war. Just take in that number. That is longer than the Nazi occupation of many of our cities during World War II.”

Zelenskyy mentioned Russia, saying,

“Can Russia end the war? Yes. Does it want to? No.” He added, “Russia does not end its wars on its own,” noting that “only pressure from others – only coercion from others” has historically forced the Kremlin to stop.

The world must not accept lies “in suits”

Zelenskyy criticized what he described as persistent global hesitation and dangerous diplomacy, stating,

“Too often, the truth is still avoided and called diplomacy, though in reality it is simply lies in suits.”

He argued that continued trust in the Kremlin is “nothing less than a verdict. A verdict against shared international security.”

He made clear Ukraine’s refusal to accept weak assurances recalling the Budapest memorandum — the US-Russia assurances of Ukraine’s territorial integrity in exchange for all of its nuclear weapons, which failed as Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, then unleashed an all-out war in 2022, while the US did not stick to its promises and now presses for Ukraine to cede the occupied territories to Russia. He said:

“A Budapest-style piece of paper will not satisfy Ukraine. Ukraine does not need a Minsk-style meticulously drafted trap.”

Instead, he insisted that “My signature will be under a strong agreement,” one ratified by parliaments and backed by guarantees.

“Seven meetings” with Trump — a changed tone

After his recent visit to the US, Zelenskyy credited diplomatic persistence for a shift in relations with Washington.

“It was not easy at all to achieve such a change in the tone of relations between Ukraine and the United States.”

He referenced both the initial tense encounter and the more recent one, saying,

“From the first meeting in the Oval Office, with all its tense moments, to the conversation at Mar-a-Lago,” where he believes “peace is close, more possible than ever.”

Ukraine, he said, “has defended its right to have a voice. And everyone can see that Ukraine respects itself – and that is why we are respected.” He underlined that Ukraine now “can reach any enemy military target and oil refinery,” and “teaches NATO militaries what modern drones are.”

“Only two options”: stop Russia now or face it later

Addressing global allies, Zelenskyy warned:

“Either the world stops Russia’s war, or Russia drags the world into its war.”

He called on America to act with urgency:

“Is America capable of stopping the aggressor quickly and decisively? Absolutely. Would we want that? Very much. When is it possible? Always. And when is it needed? We needed it back yesterday.”

He said sanctions are helping but insufficient:

“Sanctions are biting Russia – but only an iron grip will work.” He added, “Russian oil is already cheap, but their tankers must be stopped completely… Russian plants are already slowing down, but they must be brought to a halt.”

“Ukraine is the only shield”

Zelenskyy issued a stark message to Europe:

“Ukraine is, in fact, the only shield that now separates Europe’s comfortable way of life from the Russian world.” He warned, “When Putin says, ‘We’re not going to attack you,’ that is the first warning of exactly where his tanks will go.”

He said that without Ukraine, the world would soon be asking,

“‘Why support Poland?’ and ‘Who will fight for the Baltic states?’ and ‘What is there to do without Ukraine in NATO?’”

Europe stands — but not all of it

The President detailed ongoing coordination with EU leaders.

“We coordinate with Emmanuel, the President of France… we speak with the Chancellor of Germany, and Friedrich says, ‘Air defense will be delivered.’”

In conversations with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he said they agreed “to meet immediately after the New Year, without making any pauses.”

He quoted Italy’s Giorgia Meloni as saying,

“Peace must be such that Ukrainians accept it… I do not want disappointed people in Ukraine then burning portraits of European and American leaders in the squares.”

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, he said, insists: “We must do more for Ukraine because this is for the defense of all of Europe.”

Zelenskyy thanked many other partners — Spain, Czechia, Romania, Greece, the Vatican, the Phanar (the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople), Türkiye, and especially Finland.

“President of Finland, Alexander Stubb… always says at the end, ‘My friend, do not forget to train – because you must be strong, Ukrainians must be strong.’”

Ukraine “already part of Europe in reality”

Highlighting integration into European structures, Zelenskyy said,

“All negotiating clusters between us have, in reality, long been open.”

He pointed to $100 billion in support as evidence that “Ukraine is already part of the European family.” That sum, he said, “is the resilience of our army… and it is justice that, in the end, Russia pays for this.”

Zelenskyy extended gratitude to allies around the world — “in Japan, Australia, Canada” — who “stand on the light side of history.”

“A toast. One for everyone.”

As midnight approached, Zelenskyy spoke directly to citizens.

“We will have a New Year, despite everything, because that’s the kind of people we are – we are Ukrainians.”

He raised a toast:

“For our warriors… for all those who save us… for all those we are waiting for… for peace to come.”

Repeating the soldiers’ mantra, he added,

“All we need is to hold on for one day longer than they do.”

He ended by calling for strength in unity:

“One decision braver. Even by one tenth – but better. And by ten percent… ten percent stronger. And then we will win peace one hundred percent.”

The President ended with hope:

“If we truly want something, sooner or later, it happens… we believe in peace, we fight for it, and we work for it. And we will continue to do so.”

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