Peace cannot come on the principle of «let's start from scratch». Zelenskyy congratulates Ukrainians on 2025

Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainians on the New Year 2025

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a New Year's address to Ukrainians, summarising the key challenges and achievements of the outgoing year and expressing gratitude to citizens for their resilience and commitment to the state.

The video of the President's address was posted on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's social media channels.

«Today I am addressing everyone who values Ukraine, cherishes their country, and speaks of it with love: «My», cannot imagine itself without Ukraine, wherever it is now. Everyone who has been fighting for it so steadfastly and so bravely for more than a thousand days. This is you. Our people. Ukrainians and Ukrainian women. Everyone I thank for this year 2024. To our people who are going through all the difficulties with dignity. People for whom being a citizen of Ukraine is a matter of pride. And for me, it is a pride to be the President of such people. Ukrainians who prove that no cruise missile can defeat a nation that has wings,»the President addressed the Ukrainians.

He reminded of those who are celebrating the holiday in occupation and captivity in Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that in the future, Ukrainians will be separated only by a generously laid table.

«We will fight for all those whom Russia has driven into occupation and failed to occupy their Ukrainian hearts. No matter how many evil people hand out passports at gunpoint, our people say: «You are not native here, you are temporary». And all that imported weed will not take root on our land, will not defeat the indigenous people. And I always remember the story of our Ukrainian grandfather, whom the occupiers asked: «What time is it?» And they heard the answer: «It's time to get off our land». This is what the will inside is, which is simply impossible to occupy. And I appeal to everyone who carries this will in the temporarily occupied territories. Dear Ukrainians! I know that you are celebrating the New Year according to our time, and you are hearing these words right now. In our Crimea, in Donbass, in Melitopol, in Mariupol — everywhere where Ukraine is waiting. And where one day Ukraine will return to be together. And the only thing that will divide Ukrainians is a generously laid table,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

In addition, in his address, he reminded that from the first minutes of the invasion until the moment of victory, America was and will be by Ukraine's side.

«I thank all Americans for proving these words with deeds. I have no doubt that the new American President is willing and able to bring peace and put an end to Putin's aggression. He understands that the former is impossible without the latter. Because this is not a street fight where you have to calm down the two sides. This is a full-scale aggression of a crazy state against a civilised one. And I believe that we, together with the United States, are capable of this power. To force Russia to a just peace. That is, not to forget and not to zero out everything that Russia has done. Bucha, Olenivka, Avdiivka, all our destroyed towns and villages. That is why a truly just peace cannot come on the principle of «let's start from scratch». Because the score is not 0:0. The score is thousands and thousands of Ukrainians whose lives were stolen by Russia,» he said.

See also: New Year's greetings from Mykolaiv residents to Mykolaiv residents