December 26, 2025 | 04:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sparked controversy after delivering a Christmas Eve message that appeared to allude to the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a new wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
In a video message posted on X on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, Zelensky spoke about Ukraine’s resilience amid the war.
“Despite all the suffering that Russia has brought, it is not capable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity,” he said, as quoted by NDTV.
Without naming Putin directly, Zelensky added, “Today, we all share one dream. And we have one wish for everyone: 'May he perish,' as everyone says to themselves.”
Zelensky also framed his remarks within a broader appeal for peace. “But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater. We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it, we pray for it, we deserve it,” he said.
The remarks came a day after Russia launched missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, killing at least three people and causing widespread power outages. Zelensky condemned the attacks, accusing Moscow of targeting civilians even during the Christmas period.
“On the eve of Christmas, the Russians once again showed who they truly are,” Zelensky said. “Massive shelling, hundreds of "shaheds", ballistic missiles, Kinzhal strikes - everything was used. This is how the godless strike.”
Separately, Zelensky outlined elements of a 20-point peace proposal during a briefing with journalists. He said Ukraine could consider withdrawing its forces from parts of the eastern industrial region under a ceasefire arrangement, but only if Russian troops also withdraw and the area is converted into a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces.
The proposal represents Zelensky’s clearest indication yet of a possible compromise over the Donbas region, a key battleground in the conflict.
He suggested a similar arrangement could apply to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian control, adding that any peace agreement would need approval through a national referendum.
Russia has shown no indication that it is willing to withdraw from the occupied territories. Moscow currently controls most of Luhansk and around 70 percent of Donetsk, together known as the Donbas region. Putin has demanded that Ukraine formally cede these areas, a demand Kyiv has firmly rejected.
At a year-end press conference, Putin claimed Russian forces had captured several frontline towns, including Siversk in Donetsk and Vovchansk in Kharkiv, and made significant advances in Lyman, Kostiantynivka, and Hulyaipole.
However, those claims were disputed by independent analysts. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, said satellite imagery and open-source intelligence contradict Russia’s assertions.
“ISW has not found evidence confirming the seizures or the scale of progress claimed,” the group said, as quoted by Al Jazeera, noting limited Russian presence in parts of Hulyaipole and Lyman.
The Kremlin has also claimed full control of Kupiansk in Kharkiv and Pokrovsk in Donetsk. ISW estimates Russia controls no more than 7.2 percent of the Kharkiv region, while Ukraine’s military says its forces have pushed Russian troops out of a 16-square-kilometer area in Pokrovsk.
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