In his New Year's address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a peace agreement is 90 percent complete.
"The peace agreement is 90 percent ready. Ten percent remains. And that is much more than just numbers. That ten percent essentially contains everything," Zelensky said.
He noted that this final 10% will determine the fate of the world, Ukraine, and Europe, and define how people will live. "Ten percent to save millions of lives," the President emphasized.
Zelensky said he returned to Kyiv yesterday at 6 a.m., with his team having spent nearly 50 hours in transit.
The President clearly outlined Ukraine's position: "We want the end of the war – not the end of Ukraine." He noted that while Ukraine is exhausted, that does not mean it is ready to surrender.
"1,407 days of full-scale war. That is longer than the Nazi occupation of many of our cities during World War II," Zelensky noted.
The President emphasized the requirements for any deal: "A Budapest-style piece of paper will not satisfy Ukraine. Ukraine does not need a carefully crafted Minsk-style trap. Signatures on weak agreements only fuel the war. My signature will only appear on a strong agreement."
According to Zelensky, intentions must turn into security guarantees ratified by the U.S. Congress, European parliaments, and all partners.
The President described a shift in relations with the United States: "From that first meeting in the Oval Office, with all its tense moments, to the conversation at Mar-a-Lago, which made one thing clear: nothing will work without Ukraine."
Zelensky held seven meetings with the U.S. President this year.
Regarding European backing, the President said: "We have secured $100 billion in support."
Zelensky quoted Giorgia Meloni: "The agreement documents must be right. The peace must be one that Ukrainians accept. This peace must be approved by Ukrainians."
The President outlined the key global dilemma: "Today, there are only two options. Either the world stops Russia's war, or Russia drags the world into its war."
