Zelenskyy Rejects ‘Weak’ Peace as Russia Releases Drone Video Claiming Attack on Putin’s Residence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed not to sign what he called a “weak” peace agreement that could prolong the war, as Russia escalated tensions by releasing a video it claims shows a drone used in an alleged attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence—an accusation Kyiv and its allies have dismissed as a fabrication aimed at derailing peace talks.

What did Zelenskyy say about the peace plan?

In a New Year address to the nation, Zelenskyy said Ukraine wanted the war to end but not “at any cost,” stressing that any deal must safeguard the country’s sovereignty and future security.

“We want an end to the war but not the end of Ukraine,” he said, adding that while Ukrainians were exhausted after nearly four years of fighting, surrender was not an option. “Any signature placed on weak agreements only fuels the war.”

Why did Zelenskyy say peace plan close to completion?

Zelenskyy revealed that weeks of US-led diplomacy, including talks last weekend with US President Donald Trump in Florida, had brought a potential peace agreement close to completion.

“A peace agreement is 90% ready. Ten percent remains, and that ten percent will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe,” he said. The key obstacle, he noted, remains territorial control.

What is the present ground situation in Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Russia currently occupies about 19% of Ukraine’s territory in the south and east. Moscow has demanded that Kyiv withdraw from parts of the eastern Donbas region that Russian forces have not fully captured.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine wants the map frozen along current battle lines and dismissed Russian demands for a full Donbas withdrawal as “deception,” accusing Moscow of dressing lies up as diplomacy.

Why Russia releasing drone attack video escalates conflict?

Against this backdrop, Russia’s defence ministry on Wednesday (December 31, 2025) released nighttime footage of a damaged drone lying in snow in a forested area, claiming it was used in a “carefully planned” attack on a protected facility in the Valdai district of the Novgorod region, where Putin has a residence.

Moscow labelled the alleged December 28 incident a “terrorist attack” and a “personal attack” on Putin, vowing to harden its negotiating position. Russian officials said the drone carried high-explosive elements but that no damage was caused to the residence.

What was Ukraine’s reaction to the Russia video release?

Kyiv immediately rejected the allegation as a “lie” and a “fabrication” intended to manipulate the peace process, a view echoed by the European Union, which warned the claim appeared designed to sabotage negotiations.

The timing of the accusation, coinciding with Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump, has further fueled skepticism.

What did think tank ISW say about the drone strike?

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said it had not seen corroborating evidence typically associated with Ukrainian deep strikes.

“Kremlin officials are using the alleged Ukrainian strike against Novgorod Oblast to justify Russia’s continued insistence that Ukraine and the West capitulate to Russia’s original demands from 2021 and 2022,” the ISW said.

Why is the peace plan at a critical, decisive stage?

As diplomacy intensifies, Zelenskyy framed the moment as decisive. He said Ukraine’s goal was a “strong peace” that would last years, not weeks or months.

With competing narratives hardening and mistrust running deep, the final contours of any agreement, particularly over territory, remain uncertain, even as pressure mounts on all sides to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War Two.