Zelensky admits Ukrainians wish Putin would ‘perish’ but urges prayers for peace in Christmas speech

KYIV, UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged in a stark Christmas Eve address that many Ukrainians harbor a deep desire to see Russian President Vladimir Putin dead, even as he urged the nation to pray for peace rather than vengeance.

“‘May he perish,’ each of us may think to ourselves,” Zelensky said in his televised message. “But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater.”

He added that Ukrainians are united in seeking an end to the war. “We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it. And we deserve it, so that every Ukrainian family lives in harmony,” Zelensky said.

Volodymyr Zelensky highlights Ukraine’s resilience

Zelensky framed the remarks within the broader context of a nation enduring another Christmas under fire, emphasizing resilience and faith after nearly two years of full-scale war.

Earlier in the day, he described the holiday as the “fourth wartime Christmas for the Ukrainian people during the full-scale war, the largest in Europe since World War II.”

The president accused Moscow of rejecting even temporary pauses in hostilities during the holy period, saying Russia had continued attacks rather than embracing a ceasefire.

Kremlin condemns remarks as ‘uncultured’

The Kremlin reacted sharply. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized Zelensky’s comments as “uncultured” and “embittered,” questioning whether the Ukrainian leader was capable of making rational decisions.

Russian state media amplified the criticism, portraying the remarks as further evidence of hostility from Kyiv.

Zelensky said that instead of honoring calls to halt violence for Christmas, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone assault targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, triggering power outages across multiple regions while ground fighting continued along the front lines.

“Regrettably, Russia continues to reject real ceasefire proposals, as it has done throughout the year,” he said, accusing Moscow of deliberately prolonging the conflict.

Peace plan floated amid ongoing war

The Christmas message followed Zelensky’s presentation of a new 20-point peace proposal, which includes the creation of a fortified defensive belt along Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, areas Kyiv has controlled since 2014, to prevent further Russian advances.

In a rare, candid interaction with reporters, Zelensky laid out fresh details of a 20-point proposal he described as a “foundational document to end the war,” framing it as a political framework involving Ukraine, the United States, Europe and Russia.

Zelensky said that the plan includes detailed security guarantees to be extended to Ukraine by the US and European partners, elements he described as essential to any eventual peace settlement with Moscow.

He added that Kyiv expects a response from Russia as early as Wednesday, following US engagement with the Kremlin.

The proposed 20-point framework is a pared-down version of an earlier 28-point plan previously discussed between Washington and Moscow.

Zelensky said that the revised draft outlines what Ukraine views as an acceptable compromise, including provisions related to the redeployment of Ukrainian forces from parts of the eastern Donetsk region that are not currently under Russian control.