Kyiv Says Peace Deal ‘90% Ready’, Warns Final Issues Will Decide Ukraine and Europe’s Future

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that negotiations to end the war with Russia are “90 per cent ready,” cautioning that the remaining unresolved issues are the most critical and will ultimately determine the future of peace, Ukraine’s sovereignty, and European security.

“The peace agreement is 90 per cent ready. Ten per cent remains. And that is far more than just numbers,” Zelenskyy said in a video message posted on his official Telegram channel.
“Those are the 10 per cent that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe.”

While reiterating Kyiv’s desire to bring the nearly four-year-old conflict to an end, Zelenskyy underlined that any settlement must be anchored in robust security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. He warned against any agreement that could reward Moscow or weaken Ukraine’s long-term security.

According to AFP, the Ukrainian president made it clear that peace cannot come at the cost of territorial concessions or political compromises that would embolden Russia. Moscow currently occupies around 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory and has been pressing for full control of the eastern Donbas region—demands that Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.

Zelenskyy’s remarks come amid intensified diplomatic efforts, led by the United States, to explore pathways to end the conflict. However, deep divisions persist, particularly over territorial integrity and post-war security arrangements.

In a separate New Year’s message posted on X, Zelenskyy articulated Ukraine’s core position in unequivocal terms.

“Let’s start with the most important thing. What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No,” he said.
“We want the end of the war, but not the end of Ukraine.”

Acknowledging the strain of prolonged fighting, Zelenskyy spoke candidly about the exhaustion felt across the country but firmly rejected any notion of surrender.

“Are we tired? Very much. Does this mean that we are ready to give up? Those who think so are greatly mistaken,” he said.

The Ukrainian leader said the war had exposed Russia’s fundamental miscalculation about Ukraine’s resilience and national resolve.

“It is obvious that during all these years he did not understand who Ukrainians are,” Zelenskyy added.

He reiterated that Ukraine’s pursuit of peace does not extend to accepting terms that undermine its sovereignty or leave it vulnerable to renewed invasion. Any agreement, he stressed, must include security safeguards strong enough to deter future Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy’s comments followed a call involving senior US officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Ukrainian and European security advisers, focused on next steps toward ending the conflict.

The war, now entering its fifth calendar year, has inflicted widespread devastation across Ukraine, displacing millions and leaving entire cities in ruins.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a defiant note in his New Year’s Eve address, urging Russians to believe in victory. Addressing soldiers he described as “heroes,” Putin said, “We believe in you and our victory.”

The Kremlin has said it would “toughen” its negotiating stance after accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks near Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region. Moscow described the alleged incident as a “personal” and “terrorist attack,” though no publicly available evidence has substantiated the claim.