Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine was “10 per cent” away from a deal to end the war with Russia, but warned that it would determine the fate of peace, underscoring that the most
difficult and decisive issues are still unresolved.
“The peace agreement is 90 per cent ready. Ten per cent remains. And that is far more than just numbers,” Zelenskyy said in a video message posted on his Telegram handle.
Emphasising the gravity of what is at stake, he added, “Those are the 10 per cent that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe.”
Zelenskyy cautioned that while Ukraine wants an end to the war, any settlement must be built on strong security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
According to AFP, he warned against rewarding Moscow, making it clear that peace should not come through concessions that could weaken Ukraine’s long-term security or embolden Russia.
The Ukrainian President’s remarks come amid intensified diplomatic efforts led by the United States to end the conflict, although deep divisions remain, particularly over territory.
Russia currently occupies around 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory and is pushing for full control of the eastern Donbas region as part of any agreement, a demand Kyiv has consistently rejected, warning that ceding land would only encourage further aggression.
Zelenskyy’s comments on the state of negotiations were followed by a separate New Year’s video message shared on X, in which he laid out Ukraine’s core position on peace and sovereignty in stark terms.
“Let’s start with the most important thing. What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No,” Zelenskyy said.
“We want the end of the war, but not the end of Ukraine.”
Acknowledging the exhaustion brought on by nearly four years of fighting, Zelenskyy spoke candidly about the toll the war has taken on the country, while firmly rejecting any notion of capitulation.
“Are we tired? Very much. Does this mean that we are ready to give up? Those who think so are greatly mistaken,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader said the prolonged conflict had clearly revealed the resilience of Ukrainians, arguing that Russia had fundamentally misunderstood the nation it was fighting.
“And it is obvious that during all these years he did not understand who Ukrainians are,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine’s desire for peace does not extend to accepting an agreement that would compromise its sovereignty or security.
He reiterated that any end to the war must include safeguards strong enough to deter Russia from invading again.
Zelenskyy’s speech came just hours after US officials, including top envoy Steve Witkoff, held a call with Ukrainian and European security advisers to discuss the next steps toward ending the nearly four-year-old conflict.
The war, now entering its fifth calendar year, has caused massive destruction across Ukraine, displacing millions of people and leaving entire cities in ruins.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a defiant tone in his own New Year’s Eve address, urging Russians to believe in victory in Ukraine.
Addressing soldiers he described as “heroes,” Putin said, “We believe in you and our victory.”
The Kremlin has said it would “toughen” its negotiating position after accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks near Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region.
Moscow described the alleged incident as a “personal” and “terrorist attack,” though publicly available evidence has not corroborated the claim.
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