Kiev: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it well-spoken in his New Year's speech that his country wants peace, but not at any price. Zelenskyy rejected the idea of a "weak" peace deal that could compromise Ukraine's future. He said Ukraine will not surrender or sign any try-on that doesn't secure lasting peace and protect its independence.
In a televised write late on December 31, Zelenskyy told citizens that without nearly four years of war, people are tired, but their fatigue is not a reason to requite up. "What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No," he said, subtracting that any deal that leaves Ukraine vulnerable would only fuel increasingly conflict.
The Ukrainian president moreover undisputed the toll the war has taken on the country. "Are we tired? Very," he said. "Does this midpoint we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is tightly mistaken."
Why is this stance significant now?
Talks between Ukraine, Russia and international mediators have been moving forward, and diplomats recently said a peace try-on was scrutinizingly complete. Zelenskyy, however, said the final stages of negotiations are the most hair-trigger and warned versus rushing into a pact that falls short of Ukraine's demands.
He insisted that the cadre issue remains tenancy of territory seized by Russian forces. Ukraine wants the current front lines to remain unchanged, while Moscow has pressed for Ukraine to requite up parts of the eastern Donbas region.
How did Putin respond?
From Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a very variegated tone in his own New Year speech. Putin said he still believes Russia will win the war, framing the mismatch as a long-term struggle. He focused heavily on morale and praised Russian troops but did not write recent claims well-nigh a Ukrainian drone wade on his residence, a requirement Kyiv has denied.
Putin's remarks showed that, despite international pressure and ongoing talks, there’s still a wide gap between what each side wants.
