Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prayed that peace would no longer elude his nation in the new year — which Russia commemorated by firing more than 200 drones at the war-torn country.
Zelensky, who had met with President Trump on Sunday to discuss the latest peace talks, said he was heartbroken that 2025 came and went with the Russian invasion still proceeding.
“I would give anything in the world if, in this address, I could say that peace will also come in just a few minutes,” Zelensky said as the clock was ready to strike midnight. “Unfortunately, I cannot say that yet.
“But with a clear conscience, I, all of us, can say that Ukraine is truly doing everything for peace,” he added.
The Ukrainian president said that the US-backed peace deal is “90% ready,” with Russia’s maximalist demands and refusal to make any real concessions remaining the key issue.
“Those are the 10% that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live,” he said of the details preventing peace.
“Ten percent to save millions of lives. Ten percent of the determination needed for peace to work 100%. Ten percent of the unity and wisdom so desperately needed — Ukrainian, American, European, from the entire world. Ten percent to peace.”
The speech came just after Zelensky concluded a call with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff regarding the peace deal and Ukraine’s future security.
“We focused on how to move the discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of @POTUS’ peace process, including strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms to help end the war and ensure it does not restart,” Witkoff wrote on X.
While Ukrainian and US officials discussed peace, Russia rang in the New Year by firing some 205 drones over the border, killing at least two people, according to Kyiv’s military.
Ukraine’s air defense systems intercepted 176 drones during the assault, with 24 strikes confirmed to have hit at 15 locations across the country.
Along with the bombardment, Moscow also reupped its claims that Ukraine attempted to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin during a December drone strike.
Ukraine has denied the allegations, with the CIA also concluding that the claims were false, according to multiple reports.
