Reside: Zelensky says he will not signal ‘weak’ peace deal that might solely extend Ukraine struggle

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Issued on: 01/01/2026 - 07:23

<img fetchpriority="high" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/89990708-e6d6-11f0-80eb-005056a97e36/w:1280/p:16x9/2025-12-29T124020Z-594971741-RC2YPIA2QFLH-RTRMADP-3-UKRAINE-CRISIS-TRUMP-ZELENSKIY.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/89990708-e6d6-11f0-80eb-005056a97e36/w:388/p:16x9/2025-12-29T124020Z-594971741-RC2YPIA2QFLH-RTRMADP-3-UKRAINE-CRISIS-TRUMP-ZELENSKIY.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/89990708-e6d6-11f0-80eb-005056a97e36/w:720/p:16x9/2025-12-29T124020Z-594971741-RC2YPIA2QFLH-RTRMADP-3-UKRAINE-CRISIS-TRUMP-ZELENSKIY.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/89990708-e6d6-11f0-80eb-005056a97e36/w:1024/p:16x9/2025-12-29T124020Z-594971741-RC2YPIA2QFLH-RTRMADP-3-UKRAINE-CRISIS-TRUMP-ZELENSKIY.jpg 1024w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/89990708-e6d6-11f0-80eb-005056a97e36/w:1280/p:16x9/2025-12-29T124020Z-594971741-RC2YPIA2QFLH-RTRMADP-3-UKRAINE-CRISIS-TRUMP-ZELENSKIY.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px" width="1280" height="720" alt="A file photo showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky standing alongside US President Donald Trump during a press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 28, " loading="eager" class="a-img "/> A file picture displaying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky standing alongside US President Donald Trump throughout a press convention at Trump's Mar-a-Lago membership in Palm Seashore, Florida, US, December 28, 2025. © Jonathan Ernst, Reuters Talking in a New Yr deal with to the nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his nation needed the almost four-year struggle with Russia to finish – however not at any value. "My signature will probably be positioned on a powerful settlement," he stated, including that signatures "positioned on weak agreements solely gas the struggle". Observe our liveblog for all the most recent developments.

01/01/2026 - 07:00 Kim Jong-un hails North Korea's 'invincible alliance' with Russia in New Yr's letter North Korean chief Kim Jong Un has praised his troops combating overseas as forging an "invincible alliance" with Russia in a brand new 12 months's message, state media stated.

Pyongyang has despatched 1000's of troops to assist Russia's almost four-year invasion of Ukraine, in accordance with South Korean and Western intelligence businesses.

At the least 600 have died and 1000's extra have sustained accidents, in accordance with South Korean estimates that would not be independently confirmed.

On Thursday Kim praised his males combating in an "alien land", congratulating their "heroic" defence of the nation's honour and instructing them to "be courageous", the state-run Korean Central Information Company stated.

"As the entire nation is enveloped in a festive ambiance of greeting the brand new 12 months, I all of the extra miss you, who're combating bravely on the battlefields within the alien land even at this second," he stated.

Kim hinted that extra abroad motion may happen this 12 months, highlighting "outstanding feats you'll carry out on the abroad battlefields".

01/01/2026 - 06:58 Russian air defences down 5 Moscow-bound drones, mayor says Russian air defence models downed 5 Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow on New Yr's Eve, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated.

Sobyanin, in a sequence of posts on Telegram over a little bit greater than three hours into early on Thursday morning, stated specialist crews have been inspecting fragments from the drones on the websites the place they'd hit the floor.

Sobyanin made no point out of casualties or harm.

Restrictions have been positioned on Moscow's Domodedovo airport for a time. Different airports in southern and central Russia have been additionally topic to momentary restrictions.

01/01/2026 - 06:49 Zelensky says deal to finish Ukraine struggle '10 %' away Talking in his New Yr deal with to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine needed the struggle to finish, however not at any value. He added that he wouldn't signal a "weak" peace settlement that might solely extend the struggle.

Zelensky stated Ukrainians have been exhausted from almost 4 years of struggle.

"What does Ukraine need? Peace? Sure. At any value? No. We would like an finish to the struggle however not the tip of Ukraine," Zelensky, carrying a darkish inexperienced embroidered Ukrainian shirt, stated within the 21-minute deal with issued simply earlier than midnight.

"Are we drained? Very. Does this imply we're able to give up? Anybody who thinks so is deeply mistaken."

Zelensky stated any signature "positioned on weak agreements solely gas the struggle".

"My signature will probably be positioned on a powerful settlement. And that's precisely what each assembly, each cellphone name, each resolution is about now," he stated. "To safe a powerful peace for everybody, not for a day, per week or two months, however peace for years."

Zelensky stated weeks of US-led diplomacy, together with his talks final weekend with US President Donald Trump in Florida, had produced a peace deal that was almost prepared.

"A peace settlement is 90 % prepared, 10 % stays," he stated. "That 10 % comprises all the things, it's the 10 % that may decide the destiny of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe and the way folks will reside."

Russia launched a video of a drone it says Ukraine fired at Putin's residence in northwestern Russia. At the least six folks have been wounded in Russian drone strikes on Odesa. Russian assaults on Odesa's power infrastructure left greater than 170,000 folks with out energy, Ukraine's power ministry stated. Ukraine described video footage displaying an alleged drone assault on Putin's home as "laughable". French President Emmanuel Macron stated allies will make commitments on defending Ukraine at a January 6 assembly. (FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)