Zelensky Says Ukraine Peace Plan Is ‘90 Percent Ready,’ Vows Only to Sign Strong Agreement

A potential agreement to end Russia’s war against Ukraine is “90 percent ready,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a New Year’s address to the nation late Wednesday, stressing that he would only sign a deal that safeguards Ukraine’s sovereignty.

“Ten percent remains … Those 10 percent contain, in fact, everything,” Zelenskyy said in a 20-minute speech focused largely on the war, which is set to enter its fifth year in 2026. “Those are the 10 percent that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live.”

Zelenskyy explained that while Ukraine’s position has gained broad international attention, it has not yet been fully accepted. “Have our arguments been heard? We very much hope so. Have they agreed with us? Not fully. Not yet. That is precisely why, for now, we speak of 90 percent, not the full 100 percent, readiness of a peace agreement,” he said.

He emphasized that Kyiv would reject any deal that compromises its future. “What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No. We want the end of the war — not the end of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, warning that a weak agreement would “only fuel war.”

In his address, the Ukrainian president thanked nearly all European countries individually for their support, notably omitting Hungary. Referring to Budapest’s approach to Russia’s invasion, he remarked, “A Budapest-style piece of paper will not satisfy Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy also referenced U.S. President Donald Trump, saying, “The U.S. president always mentions our people and talks about how bravely Ukrainians are fighting.”

Acknowledging the strain on the population, Zelenskyy said Ukrainians were “tired,” but added they were “not ready to surrender.” He noted that Russia’s invasion has now lasted longer than the Nazi occupation of Ukraine during World War II.

He rejected claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that a Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas region would end the war. “That is how deception sounds when translated from Russian … Does anyone still believe them? Unfortunately. Because too often, the truth is still avoided and called diplomacy, though in reality it is simply lies in suits,” Zelenskyy said.

Reiterating his core message, Zelenskyy warned, “Either the world stops Russia’s war, or Russia drags the world into its war.”

The speech came as Russia launched another overnight aerial assault on Ukraine. Zelenskyy said more than 200 attack drones were deployed, with most intercepted, though strikes were reported in the Volyn, Rivne, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions.

“If the strikes do not stop even during the New Year holidays, then air defense deliveries cannot be delayed. Our allies have the necessary scarce equipment. We expect that everything agreed with the United States at the end of December for our protection will be delivered on time,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

A follow-up meeting between Zelenskyy and international leaders is scheduled to take place Monday in France, according to officials.