In New Year address, Putin assures victory in Ukraine, praises Russian forces
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed Moscow’s determination to achieve victory in Ukraine, praising Russian forces and stressing national unity in a New Year’s address delivered amid ongoing international efforts to end the conflict.
In his annual televised speech on Wednesday, Putin hailed Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine as heroes and assured them of broad public support across the Russian Federation.
“Millions of people across Russia — I assure you — are with you on this New Year's Eve. They are thinking of you, empathizing with you, hoping for you. I wish all our soldiers and commanders a happy coming New Year! We believe in you and our victory!” the Russian leader stressed.
Framing the war as part of a wider existential struggle imposed by the West, Putin said Russia’s shared sense of destiny and unity would continue to guarantee the sovereignty and security of the nation.
“The strength of our unity determines the sovereignty and security of the Fatherland, its development, and its future,” added the Russian president, whose forces are advancing slowly but steadily in Ukraine.
Putin’s address came as US President Donald Trump is attempting to broker a ceasefire to the nearly four-year conflict, the deadliest in Europe since World War II, despite the two sides maintaining sharply different negotiating positions.
Putin also highlighted steady progress on the battlefield, noting that Russian forces are advancing gradually but consistently.
The speech coincided with the release of video footage by Russian authorities showing what they described as a downed drone, which Moscow said was evidence of a failed Ukrainian attempt to attack a presidential residence, an allegation rejected by Kiev.
While Russia remains committed to US-mediated peace talks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has indicated that the country's negotiating position would be reassessed in light of Ukraine's actions, confirming that targets for retaliatory strikes have been identified.
The drone incident follows a controversial Christmas address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which he made a veiled reference to wishing harm upon Putin, a remark condemned by the Kremlin as unhinged.
In a separate video statement on Wednesday, Russia’s top general said troops were continuing to establish buffer zones in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions, adding that Russian forces had advanced faster in December than in any other month of 2025.
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