(KYIV) – Ukraine wants peace but will not accept an outcome that ends its own statehood, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, stressing that only sustained pressure can compel Russia to stop its war. Speaking in his New Year address, Zelenskyy said the conflict has continued for 1407 days and that Ukrainians remain united despite exhaustion and hardship.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainians should share a clear understanding of reality and be equipped not only on the battlefield but also with truth about what each party seeks. He said Ukraine wants peace, but not at any cost, and that the country seeks an end to the war rather than an end to Ukraine. He acknowledged widespread fatigue but rejected the idea that tiredness equals readiness to surrender, saying anyone who believes that misunderstands the Ukrainian people.
He described daily life under attack, with frequent nights in shelters, days without electricity or sleep, and long periods at the front. Despite this, he said, the country has avoided panic, chaos, and internal division, maintaining unity throughout the prolonged conflict. He reiterated that Ukrainians want the war to end.
Zelenskyy said there is still no peace because Russia remains Ukraine’s neighbour and continues its aggression. He argued that Russia can end the war but does not want to, and that the world has the capacity to force an end if it applies sufficient pressure. He questioned why that pressure has not yet been fully applied and called for an honest assessment of the situation.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia has never ended a war of its own accord. He said conflicts involving Russia have historically concluded only after coercion from others, actions that Moscow later describes as gestures of goodwill. Claims that withdrawing from parts of eastern Ukraine would end the war, he said, amount to deception and should not be believed.
He warned against mistaking falsehoods dressed up as diplomacy for truth, saying such avoidance undermines international security. Zelenskyy cited Russia’s actions since the occupation of Crimea, the seizure of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the full scale invasion that began on February 24, and atrocities including those in Bucha, Mariupol, and Olenivka, as reasons not to take Russian assurances at face value.
Zelenskyy said accepting such promises would be a verdict on global security and on leaders responsible for protecting their people. He said Ukraine’s arguments are being heard more widely, though not yet fully accepted, which is why discussions remain at about 90 percent readiness for a peace agreement rather than complete consensus.