Wed Jan 01 01:13:24 UTC 2025: ## Zelenskyy: Ukraine Will Fight for Peace, Confident in Continued US Support
**Kyiv, Ukraine** – In a New Year’s address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that peace will not be gifted to Ukraine, but will be secured only through a strong Ukrainian military victory over Russia. He expressed confidence in continued US support under both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration, despite acknowledging past concerns about Trump’s stance on aid to Kyiv.
Zelenskyy’s 21-minute video message highlighted Ukraine’s military achievements over the past year, including incursions into Russian territory and the development of domestically produced weaponry. He emphasized that only a strong Ukraine can command respect and achieve a just peace, contrasting this with a distrust of Russia’s intentions, both in combat and negotiations. He stated that Russia fears freedom and cannot be trusted to uphold any agreements.
The Ukrainian president referenced conversations with both President Biden and President-elect Trump, expressing belief that both understand the need to end Russian aggression and that the US will be instrumental in forcing a just peace. He described the conflict not as a simple brawl but as a full-scale act of aggression by Russia against a civilized nation.
While acknowledging a challenging year, marked by significant Russian advances on the eastern front, Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to securing peace through continued military resistance and Western security guarantees, including a potential NATO invitation. He stressed that achieving these aims requires unwavering strength and continued fighting throughout the coming year. The Biden administration, he noted, has been Ukraine’s most significant military supporter among Western nations.
First Piper 