Zelenskyy stressed that he would only sign a “strong agreement,” because a weak agreement would “only fuel war.” He said: “What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No. We want the end of the war — not the end of Ukraine.”
The president thanked nearly all European countries for their support, listing them individually, but did not mention Hungary. Referring to Budapest’s stance on Russia’s invasion, he said: “A Budapest-style piece of paper will not satisfy Ukraine.”
On U.S. President Donald Trump, he said: “The U.S. president always mentions our people and talks about how bravely Ukrainians are fighting.”
Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukrainians were “tired,” but said 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 also warned that Putin’s claim that Kyiv’s withdrawal from Donbas would end the war cannot be believed. “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.”
The Ukrainian president once again stressed his position on ending the conflict: “Either the world stops Russia’s war, or Russia drags the world into its war.”
A next meeting between Zelenskyy and international leaders is scheduled for January 6 in France, as officials announced earlier this week.