'We want war to end but not at any cost' - Zelenskiy in new year’s address to nation

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his new near address to the nation, said late on Wednesday (December 31) that Ukraine wanted the war to end, but not at any cost, adding he would not sign a "weak" peace agreement that would only prolong the war.

"What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No. We want an end to the war but not the end of Ukraine," Zelenskiy said in the address from his office, issued just before midnight.

"Are we tired? Very. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is deeply mistaken," he added.

Zelenskiy said on Tuesday (December 30) Kyiv was discussing with Washington a possible presence of U.S. troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees, and also raised what he called a faked attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence.

-Daria Smetanko/Reuters