The future of Ukraine and the struggle for a just peace: Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statements in the European Council
On December 19, 2024, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke at meetings of the European Council in Brussels. At a time when Ukraine is facing one of the biggest threats to its existence, every speech of its leader acquires historical significance. This time, Zelenskyi not only appealed to European partners to continue supporting Ukraine, but also presented a strategic vision for the future of peace and security for the country.
His words were heard against the background of proposals for a “Christmas truce”, which many in Ukraine see as an attempt to freeze the conflict on the aggressor’s terms. Zelensky clearly explained why such a scenario is unacceptable for Ukraine and the world. In addition, his statements touched on key issues of defense, peacekeeping initiatives, security of energy infrastructure and response to Russian provocations.
This speech not only summarized Ukrainian priorities, but also became a marker of the future course that the country is ready to choose in the face of global challenges.
About the Christmas truce: the holiday is not on time
The president rejected Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s proposal for a Christmas truce and prisoner exchange, calling it “political PR.”
“The Christmas exchange sounds festive, but it’s not fun for us. We can’t live in a frozen conflict. When it comes to a ceasefire, you need to clearly know what will happen tomorrow. Ukraine needs security guarantees – a strong position that will ensure lasting peace. Russia does not want that, and it constantly demonstrates.
All this is more like political PR. I do not know what the Hungarian side is proposing. Apart from the fact that it just sounds somehow “festive” – ”Christmas exchange”. But we are not having fun. Nothing can be discussed or decided about Ukraine without us. That’s why we are skeptical about it,” — Zelensky emphasized.
This statement emphasizes the fundamental position of Ukraine: any negotiations are possible only under the condition of real guarantees of peace and security, and not the preservation of the status quo, which plays in favor of the aggressor.
Security guarantees: what should peace ensure?
Zelensky emphasized that only European guarantees are not enough for Ukraine. Full membership in NATO should become the basis of security.
“For us, guarantees are NATO. But for this we need the decisions of the US and the EU. On the way to the Alliance, we want to receive temporary security guarantees. However, this should not be a formality. The peacekeeping contingent that Macron is talking about is possible, but it is important to determine who these people, what are their tasks and how will they act in case of repeated aggression by the Russian Federation”, – said the President of Ukraine.
He emphasized that Ukraine supports the idea of an international peacekeeping contingent, but only under the condition of its real effectiveness, and not a symbolic presence.
Reply to “duel” offer
Zelensky sharply reacted to Vladimir Putin’s statement about a “high-tech duel” with the West using the Oreshnyk missile:
“Do you see who we are dealing with? Do you think this is an adequate person? Just scumbags.”
This reaction emphasizes that Ukraine has no illusions about the aggressive intentions of the Kremlin. The President also emphasized the need to strengthen Ukrainian air defense to protect critical infrastructure:
“We need 19 more air defense systems to protect 20 distribution stations of nuclear generation. Otherwise, we may lose 4-5 gigawatts of capacity. In addition, additional Patriot systems are needed to protect our cities.”
About the “Istanbul agreements”: refusal of Russian ultimatums
The president denied Putin’s statements about the “Istanbul agreements”, calling them “fantasy”:
“There was a response to Russia’s ultimatum. They wanted Ukraine to surrender, freeze the conflict and change its course in favor of the Russian Federation. These were not agreements, this was blackmail. Putin lives in his own world.”
Peacekeepers in Ukraine: support for France’s initiative
Volodymyr Zelenskyi expressed support for France’s initiative to send a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine as part of security guarantees. He called on other countries of the European Union to join this initiative, but at the same time he emphasized that the most effective security guarantee for Ukraine remains its accession to NATO.
Zelensky emphasized that the deployment of the peacekeeping mission should be practical and effective, and not an “artificial story” that will not bring real benefit.
“The question is that this should not be an “artificial story”. We need effective mechanisms. If we are talking about a contingent, then we need to know clearly: how many people, what their tasks are, and what they will do in the event of aggression from the Russian Federation. These are important question, and we discuss this topic,” — the president noted.
He also noted that France’s initiative is an important step, because it raises the extremely urgent issue of security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Zelensky added that such missions can only be a temporary solution until Ukraine joins NATO.
“The peacekeeping contingent can become part of security guarantees, but the main guarantee is Ukraine’s full membership in the Alliance,” — Zelensky emphasized.
He called on European leaders to discuss all the details of this initiative and to work out real mechanisms that could ensure peace and stability in the region. According to the president, such steps are critical to guarantee protection against future aggression from Russia.
Transit of Russian gas: a point in energy dependence
Ukraine will no longer continue the transit of Russian gas, Zelensky said:
“We will not continue the transit of Russian gas. We will not allow Russia to make money from our blood. It is possible to transit the gas of other countries, but only on the condition that it does not bring profits to Russia.”
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine has already lost more energy capacities due to Russian aggression than any other country in Europe.
Meetings with European leaders: a call to action
During his visit to Brussels, Zelensky held a number of meetings with European leaders, urging them to further support Ukraine in both the military and energy spheres.
“Ukraine today defends not only itself, but also the fundamental values of freedom, democracy and sovereignty, which are the basis of Europe.” – stressed the President of Ukraine.
Weapons are more important than quantity: Zelenskyi on lowering the mobilization age
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, during his speech at the Eurocouncil, emphasized that the main task for Ukraine now is to provide the army with modern weapons and conduct high-quality training of servicemen, and not to discuss lowering the mobilization age.
Zelensky emphasized that providing the army with the necessary weapons is a decisive factor in the fight against Russian aggression.
“Tell me, please, if a person is standing in front of you without a weapon, what difference does it make whether that person is 20 years old or 30? There is no difference,” — the president remarked.
In his opinion, discussions about lowering the age of mobilization do not meet the real needs of the front. The most important thing now is to provide the Ukrainian brigades with modern weapons, which will help to more effectively deter the enemy and carry out counterattacks.
“The main thing is the availability of weapons for our brigades,” — Zelensky emphasized.
This statement by the president reflects a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine’s military advantage through the support of Western partners. Zelensky called on the international community to accelerate the transfer of weapons, which are the key to winning the war.
Zelenskyi’s speech at the Eurocouncil is a clear message to the world: Ukraine is not looking for compromises with the Russian Federation, but seeks a just peace based on real security guarantees. The President once again emphasized that the fate of Ukraine is not only an internal issue, but also a key element of stability in Europe and the world.
