Kyiv, (AFP News): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a potential peace agreement to end the war with Russia is “90 percent ready”, but cautioned that the remaining unresolved issues are decisive and go far beyond technical details.Speaking in his New Year’s Eve address, Zelensky said Ukraine wants the war to end, but not “at any cost”, stressing that any settlement must not reward Russian aggression or leave Ukraine vulnerable to future invasions.
“The peace agreement is 90 percent ready. Ten percent remains — and that is far more than just numbers,” Zelensky said in remarks posted on Telegram. “Those 10 percent will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine, and the fate of Europe.”
Territorial control remains the core stumbling block in negotiations. Russia currently occupies about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and is demanding full control of the eastern Donbas region as part of any deal. Kyiv has repeatedly warned that conceding land would embolden Moscow and increase the likelihood of renewed aggression. Zelensky reiterated that any agreement must include firm security guarantees to prevent Russia from launching another invasion.
Zelensky’s comments came as US-led diplomatic efforts gathered momentum. Senior US officials, including envoy Steve Witkoff, held talks with Ukrainian and European security advisers to discuss next steps toward ending the conflict, now approaching its fifth calendar year. The war has devastated large parts of Ukraine, displacing millions and reducing entire cities to rubble, making it Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, used his annual New Year’s Eve address to urge Russians to “believe in victory” in Ukraine. Addressing soldiers he described as “heroes”, Putin said Russia remained confident of success. It marked his fourth New Year address since the war began. The Kremlin has warned that if negotiations fail, Russia will continue efforts to seize the remaining Ukrainian territories it claims.
Russia said it would harden its negotiating position after accusing Ukraine of launching dozens of drones at Putin’s lakeside residence in the Novgorod region. Moscow described the incident as a “personal” and “terrorist” attack on the Russian leader. Russian authorities released nighttime footage showing what they claimed was a damaged drone lying in snow. The defence ministry said the strike was “targeted, carefully planned, and carried out in stages”.
