Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has wished for the death of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in his Christmas Eve address amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
In a video posted on X on Christmas
Eve, the Ukrainian leader said that “despite all the suffering that Russia has brought, it is not capable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity”.
In a veiled reference to Putin, Zelenskyy added, “Today, we all share one dream. And we make one wish – for all of us. ‘May he perish’, each of us may think to ourselves. But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater, we ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it, we pray for it, we deserve it.”
Merry Christmas! pic.twitter.com/okj9Yr1bFe
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 24, 2025
He also spoke about peace in Ukraine and said that Ukrainians are united by a single hope during the festive season, even as the country continues to endure relentless Russian attacks.
The Ukrainian President also emphasised that the festival reflects everything that defines Ukrainians, their love for family, homeland, traditions, and shared roots.
“It is happiness when the whole family gathers at the table. When we finally met, we hugged each other and asked each other: How are you? All this has always been an integral part of our Christmas. But in the fourth year of the full-scale war for independence, they are trying to take all this away,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader also shared details of the 20-point plan in a briefing with reporters. He said Kyiv will withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland as a part of a plan to end the war. However, he said that this could be possible only if Moscow also pulls back and the area subsequently becomes a demilitarised zone monitored by international forces.
His remarks came after Russia hit regions across Ukraine with missiles and drones on Tuesday, killing at least three people, and triggering emergency power outages.
Zelenskyy said in the address, “On the eve of Christmas, the Russians once again showed who they truly are. Massive shelling, hundreds of “shaheds”, ballistic missiles, Kinzhal strikes – everything was used. This is how the godless strike.”
