Ukraine…Russia Day 1407…New Years Drone Attacks….

Behind Moscow’s unproven claims that Kyiv tried to attack one of Vladimir Putin’s vacation residences this week lie far steeper hurdles to ending Russia’s war, none more fundamental than Ukraine’s unflinching desire to pursue an independent, democratic future tied to the West and Russia’s insistence on thwarting that dream to return the country to its own orbit at any cost.

Several provisions in the ceasefire plan being pushed by President Donald Trump would increase the involvement of the United States and European nations in Ukraine, including a proposal to give Kyiv “NATO-like” security guarantees; a plan for a demilitarized “free economic zone” along the current combat line, potentially patrolled by Western forces; and a U.S. role in operating Ukraine’s nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, which Russia seized in 2022. All of these cut against Russia’s war aims and are almost certain to be rejected by Putin, who insists he is open to a deal.

A potential peace agreement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine is “90 percent ready,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his New Year’s address to the nation late Wednesday night.

“Ten percent remains … Those 10 percent contain, in fact, everything,” he said in a 20-minute speech focused on the war, which in 2026 is entering its fifth year. “Those are the 10 percent that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live.”

He explained that while Ukraine’s position had been heard internationally, it had not yet been fully accepted. “Have our arguments been heard? We very much hope so. Have they agreed with us? Not fully. Not yet. That is precisely why, for now, we speak of 90 percent, not the full 100 percent, readiness of a peace agreement,” he said.

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…..

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Contrasting New Years speeches from Zelensky and Putin….

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered contrasting speeches to ring in the new year amid a push to end the nearly four-year war between the two countries.

Putin delivered a brief address, suggesting the people of Russia are “united” and only touching on the war at the end of his remarks….

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