The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, addressed the nation with a New Year’s greeting, emphasizing that peace for the country is not a gift, but can be achieved by defending the state with shield and sword.
The head of state’s message was delivered in the final moments of 2024.
This year, the address was recorded at the Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II in Kyiv. Behind the president stood the “Motherland” monument, illuminated in the national blue and yellow colors.
“Behind me is ‘Mother Ukraine’. Ukraine, which stands firmly on its feet. It does not bow its head, looks forward, believes in its future, and in victory over all the evil that Russia has brought us,” the president emphasized.
According to him, throughout 2024, “Ukrainians proved every day” that “no cruise missiles can defeat a nation that has wings.” Over the year, air defense and mobile fire groups shot down 1,310 cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as 7,800 “Shaheds,” the president added.
He specifically acknowledged the military, athletes, teachers, energy workers, transport workers, and engineers, highlighting that 30% of all that was used by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield this year was made in Ukraine.
The president also mentioned that throughout the year, Ukraine managed to return 1,358 prisoners, and a total of 3,956 since the beginning of the full-scale war.
“We will fight for every person who, unfortunately, is still there [in captivity]. And we will fight for all those whom Russia has driven into occupation but could not occupy their Ukrainian hearts,” Zelensky stated.
In his greeting, the president did not forget about those “who are currently abroad but have preserved Ukraine within themselves.” He spoke about the assistance from partners and noted that Russia must be compelled to a just peace so that no one forgets its crimes.
“We know that peace will not be given to us. But we will do everything to stop Russia and end the war. This is what each of us desires. Behind each of us is ‘Mother Ukraine’. And she deserves to live in peace,” the head of state emphasized.
At the end of his greeting, Zelensky also addressed the Hungarian and Slovak peoples against the backdrop of tensions with the official Budapest and Bratislava.
“The truth must be recognized by the authorities of these countries. There should be no fear that Ukraine will be in Europe. We must do everything to ensure that there is no Russia in Europe. Its tanks, its missiles, and the evil it will inevitably carry further if Ukraine does not withstand,” he explained.
Zelensky also called for support of “all peoples defending freedom,” mentioning Moldova, Georgia, and Belarus.