Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that a peace agreement to conclude the ongoing war with Russia is 90% ready during an inspiring New Year address focused on resilience against Russia’s invasion.
He articulated that the remaining 10% of the agreement will critically decide the future of peace, Ukraine, and even Europe. Predictably, the announcement comes amid increasing tensions, with Russian President Vladimir Putin also addressing his troops with themes of support and victory.
Complications arise as Moscow claims to have evidence of Ukraine utilizing drones to attack Putin's residence, allegations that Kyiv vigorously denied. The Russian government warned that these claims may influence their stance in peace negotiations, while the EU's chief diplomat dismissed such assertions as distractions aimed at hindering the peace process.
Throughout his 20-minute address, Zelensky underscored that Ukraine will not seek peace at any cost, emphasizing that they desire an end to the conflict rather than an end to Ukraine itself. He highlighted that relinquishing control of critical regions such as Donbas would signify an end to everything.
Additionally, Zelensky thanked supporters while demanding that intentions of allies translate into concrete security guarantees, recently discussed with U.S. officials regarding a potential 15-year guarantee framework. He noted the inefficacy of weak agreements, stating, Either the world stops Russia's war, or Russia drags the world into its war.\
As January approaches, Zelensky expressed hopes for resuming peace negotiations with involvement from the U.S. and Europe, further indicating upcoming meetings among European leaders intended to solidify commitments to Ukraine. However, any peace deal requires Russian cooperation which appears less likely following the drone incident, casting uncertainty on achieving lasting peace.
