Rubble from the ongoing Ukraine/Russian War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged that Ukraine will do everything in its power in 2025 to put an end to Russia’s ongoing invasion, which has now lasted nearly three years.
In a New Year’s address delivered on Tuesday, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine would continue to fight for its freedom and sovereignty, no matter the cost.
“May 2025 be our year,” Zelensky declared, as he spoke to the nation just before midnight in Kyiv. “We know peace won’t be handed to us, but we will do everything we can to stop Russia and end the war.”
The year 2024 has been challenging for Ukraine, as it lost more territory to Russia than in 2023, according to an AFP analysis.
The country is also facing the uncertainty of reduced U.S. support, especially with the impending presidency of Donald Trump, who has promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office.
There are concerns that Ukraine could be pressured to concede land controlled by Russia as part of a peace deal under Trump’s administration.
Despite these challenges, Zelensky expressed confidence that Ukraine must continue its fight to strengthen its position both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
“Every day in 2025, we must fight for a strong Ukraine,” he said, adding that such a Ukraine would be respected and heard on both the battlefield and in peace talks.
Zelensky also spoke optimistically about the potential for peace under the new U.S. president.
“I have no doubt that the new American president is willing and capable of achieving peace and ending Putin’s aggression,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his own New Year’s address, did not mention the war directly but praised Russia’s soldiers for their “courage and bravery.”
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov also honored fallen soldiers, describing them as heroes who died defending Russia against “Nazism,” a claim Putin has used to justify his invasion.
As the war continues, Ukraine has increased its attacks on Russian soil, including drone strikes that have targeted military and industrial infrastructure.
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil depot in western Russia.
Zelensky has also called on Ukraine’s allies to help end the conflict and bring lasting peace. On the streets of Kyiv, many Ukrainians echoed his sentiment.
Kateryna Chemeryz, a teacher, expressed a hope for peace and the return of Ukrainian soldiers to their families: “I want peace for Ukraine, for people to stop dying, and for our soldiers to come home and celebrate next year’s holidays with their families.”
Tetiana, a civil servant, shared a similar wish, stating that her dream for 2025 was for Ukraine to win and reclaim all its territories.
As the U.S. prepares for Trump’s return to the White House, there are concerns among Ukrainians about the future of military aid and the potential for a peace deal that could require Ukraine to make territorial concessions.
However, many, like Tetiana, believe Ukraine should shape its own future, regardless of external pressure.
For Chemeryz, Trump’s return to power has caused anxiety. “I was hoping for a different outcome,” she admitted, referring to the uncertain future of U.S. support. But for others, like Tetiana, the focus is clear: Ukraine must continue its struggle to secure peace and reclaim its land.
