The video was published on December 31 on Zelensky’s Facebook.
“In a few minutes the new year will come. And I would give everything, everything in the world, to be able to say in this address that peace will come in a few minutes. Unfortunately, I cannot do this yet, but with a clear conscience I, we can all say that Ukraine is definitely doing everything for peace. And continues to do,” said the head of state.
According to Zelensky, the peace agreement is 90% ready.
“There remains 10%. And this is much more than… than just numbers,” Zelensky emphasized. “This is about 10% that will determine the fate of the world, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live. 10% to save millions of lives. 10% of the determination that is needed for the world to work at its best. 10% of the much-needed unity and wisdom – Ukrainian, American, European, the whole world. 10% for peace.”
As the president pointed out, Ukraine wants peace, but not at any cost.
“We want the end of the war, but not the end of Ukraine. Are we tired? Very tired. Does it mean that we are ready to give up? Anyone who thinks so is very mistaken. And he, obviously, over all these years has not understood who the Ukrainians are. A people who have held out for 1,407 days of a full-scale war,” Zelensky emphasized.
He noted that the occupying country, Russia, does not end its wars on its own – “only pressure from others, only coercion from others, which they themselves call a “gesture of good will.”
Zelensky pointed out the importance of ratification of security guarantees to Ukraine by the US Congress.
“Ukraine will not be satisfied with the Budapest paper. Ukraine does not need the Minsk jeweled trap. Signatures under weak deals only fuel the war. My signature will be on a strong agreement. And this is what every meeting, every call, every decision is about now. To ensure strong peace for everyone. Not a day, a week or two months – peace for years,” the president said.
Zelensky noted that Ukraine has wisdom, dignity and is ready for compromise, “but not for shame.”
“Today there are only two options, and only two – either the world will stop Russia’s war, or Russia will drag the world into its war,” the Ukrainian president believes.
As Zelensky said, Ukraine is truly the only shield that now separates a comfortable European life from the “Russian world,” and “most leaders do not question why support Ukraine.”
“Because if, God forbid, Ukraine falls, the following questions will arise: why support Poland, and who will fight for the Baltic states, and what to do without Ukraine in NATO? Europe needs Ukraine, and Europe needs Ukraine. We feel this more than ever,” the president noted.
Zelensky stressed that Ukrainians must approve the peace agreement, and the peace must be worthy.
“Russia will have to end the war as soon as they find one more reason for peace than to fight. That is why we often tell each other what our guys at the front say: all we need is to hold out one day longer than them. And we add today: to be one step ahead, one hour faster, one decision bolder… And 10% stronger. And then we will achieve peace 100%,” the Ukrainian president concluded.
