Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a sobering yet cautiously optimistic message to his nation on New Year's Eve, revealing that diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia are nearing completion, but the most difficult hurdles lie ahead.
The 90% Framework and the Crucial 10%
In an address posted to his official Telegram account on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Zelenskyy framed the current state of negotiations in stark numerical terms. He stated that a potential peace agreement is "90 per cent ready," with only "10 per cent" remaining to be resolved. However, he immediately cautioned that this remaining fraction is not merely a detail.
"Those are the 10 per cent that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe," the president emphasized. He made clear that while Ukraine desires an end to the devastating conflict, it would not accept peace at "any cost." Any final deal, he insisted, must include robust and enforceable security guarantees designed to prevent future Russian aggression.
Territorial Integrity and Russian Demands
The core of the unresolved issues appears to center on post-war borders and territorial control. The United States has been actively mediating between Kyiv and Moscow but has so far been unable to broker a compromise on this fundamental point.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently demanded full control of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region as a non-negotiable condition for any settlement. Zelenskyy, in his speech, forcefully rejected the notion that conceding this territory would lead to a lasting peace.
He translated what he called a Russian deception for his audience: "'Pull out from the Donbas, and it will all be over.' That is how deception sounds when translated from Russian — into Ukrainian, into English, into German, into French, and, in fact, into any language in the world." The Ukrainian leader expressed deep skepticism that Russian ambitions would be satisfied with the Donbas alone if Ukraine were to withdraw.
The Path Forward and Unwavering Principles
Zelenskyy's address served multiple purposes: to prepare the Ukrainian public for the possibility of a negotiated end to the war, while simultaneously reinforcing the government's red lines. The message underscored that proximity to a deal does not equate to desperation.
The president positioned the remaining negotiations as the most critical phase, where the long-term security and sovereignty of Ukraine will be decided. He argued that an agreement that rewards Moscow's invasion by cementing territorial gains without ironclad future protections would be unsustainable and dangerous for all of Europe.
As the world enters a new year, the conflict remains at a delicate juncture. Diplomatic activity suggests a window for dialogue, but Zelenskyy's words highlight the immense gulf that still exists on the issues that matter most: land and long-term security. The coming weeks will test whether the final 10% of the deal can be bridged without Ukraine sacrificing its core principles for the sake of peace.
