In his New Year’s message to the people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed the desire to bring an end to the ongoing conflict but emphasized that it should not come at any cost. Zelenskyy, adorned in a traditional Ukrainian shirt, highlighted the nation’s weariness after enduring almost four years of warfare, surpassing the duration of the German occupation in World War II. Despite the fatigue, he affirmed that Ukraine remains resilient and unwilling to concede.
Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukraine seeks peace but not at the expense of its sovereignty. He firmly stated that he would not endorse a weak peace deal that would only exacerbate the situation. Emphasizing the importance of a robust agreement, he underscored that every diplomatic effort and decision-making process is geared towards securing lasting peace for the nation.
Acknowledging the progress in negotiations, Zelenskyy revealed that a peace accord is close to completion, with only a small portion left to finalize. He stressed that this remaining portion carries significant weight as it will determine the future of peace, not just for Ukraine but also for Europe as a whole.
The primary obstacle hindering the finalization of the deal revolves around the control of different regions within Ukraine. While Russia holds a substantial portion of Ukrainian territory, disagreements persist over the management of the eastern Donbas region. Zelenskyy rejected Russian demands for a complete withdrawal from Donbas, labeling it as deceitful tactics that undermine the peace process.
During his recent meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Zelenskyy received additional economic support from Ottawa, reinforcing the commitment towards achieving a sustainable and equitable resolution to the conflict. Carney commended Zelenskyy’s leadership, expressing optimism for a positive outcome in the quest for enduring peace.