By Seyi Babalola
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s President, has vowed that his country will utilise 2025 to stop Russia’s nearly three-year incursion by all means necessary.
Zelensky’s speech concludes a difficult year for Ukraine, which has been battling a better-equipped Russian army for nearly three years.
In an address to the nation just before midnight in Kyiv, the Ukrainian leader said that 2025 will be their year.
“We know that peace will not be given to us as a gift but we will do everything to stop Russia and end the war,” he said.
Since the war began, Ukraine has lost seven times more territory to Russia in 2024 than in 2023 and is facing the possibility of a reduction in US military and political backing when Donald Trump takes over the White House.
Incumbent US President Joe Biden’s administration unveiled almost $6 billion in military and budget aid for Ukraine on Monday in a race to support Kyiv before President-elect, Donald Trump takes office in January.
Trump has promised to end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office, increasing fears in Ukraine that it may be forced to give up all of the land currently under Kremlin control in exchange for peace.
In his New Year’s address, Zelensky stated that Ukraine needed to continue fighting to gain an advantage on the battlefield and ahead of any potential peace talks.
“Every day in the coming year, I, and all of us, must fight for a Ukraine that is strong enough,” the Ukrainian leader said.
