"Time to leave our land": Zelensky wishes Ukraine a Happy New Year (video)

Behind me is "Mother Ukraine." Ukraine stands firmly on its feet. It does not bow its head, but looks ahead, believing in its future and victory over all the evil that Russia has brought upon us. Ukraine is capable of achieving a just peace, armed with a shield and a sword, defending its people, its colors, and its independence. Today, I address all who cherish Ukraine, safeguard our state, and speak of it with love: "My." I thank you for the year 2024. To our people who endure all hardships with dignity. To those for whom being citizens of Ukraine is a source of pride. And for me, it is an honor to be the President of such people, Ukrainians and Ukrainians, who prove that no missiles can defeat a nation with wings.

Throughout this leap year, we have demonstrated this every day. We witnessed it yesterday when we were uplifted by joy because 189 Ukrainians returned home from captivity. They will celebrate the New Year at home. Because we are bringing our people back. 1,358 people this year. 3,956 Ukrainians during this time. And I am not citing approximate figures, but very precise numbers, because each one of them is a person, our person, a very important person. With the return of each, we bring life back to Ukraine.

And just like every time this happens, we all cry. It doesn't matter if it's a touched mother, a child who has waited for their father, or the President of Ukraine; we all cry because we are all human and have preserved the light within us.

This light has helped us endure these more than a thousand days. To be brave when it is needed. To be strong when it matters. Just like our teachers, our medical staff, our energy workers, our transport workers, and all our air defense personnel, mobile fire groups. The guys who shot down 1,310 cruise and ballistic missiles this year, along with 7,800 Iranian "Shahed" drones. Bravo! Pride! Thank you! We have gone through this year together, overcoming everything that 2024 brought. Victories and failures. Joys and challenges. Tears of happiness when we succeeded. And tears of pain when we were hurt — in the heart.

Attack on "Okhmatdyt"

July. Morning. "Okhmatdyt." This is how weaklings and cowards strike. And we will never forget those children's eyes. And we will never forgive them! When evil brings death, our response is a living chain. This is what the strength of Ukrainians looks like. And this unity was visible from space. God saw it. He saw what kind of people we have. What kind of children we have. And I will never forget the incredibly mature and strong eyes of a boy from "Okhmatdyt." How much life, energy, and dignity he possesses! And how much stronger this one child is than Putin! How much stronger all our children are than all their evil. Ukrainian boys and girls who are winning this war, gaining knowledge online and even in underground schools, winning global science olympiads, raising funds for our army, coming up with technical solutions that aid our defense. You are a fantastic generation! This is who we are fighting for. This is who our heroes, our warriors, primarily protect. Those who stand firm and carry independence on their shoulders. Where will and valor clash daily, and now — on this New Year's night. On all our fronts. Everywhere. In the east, where it is currently very, very difficult and complex. But we believe, we know: you will endure. Our guys will endure. Your spirit and courage will stand firm. All that has allowed you this year to keep our Sumy and Kharkiv, our Kherson and our Zaporizhzhia. And the Russians wanted this very much. But instead, you returned the debt to the occupiers, bringing the war back home, to Russia. And those who sowed trouble on our land received it on their own. In Kursk and other places where our response, our justice, flew this year.

Justice. Just one word, but behind it stand hundreds of thousands of our people. Our defense industry and our science. Whose minds and labor made us stronger, because 30% of everything our guys had on the battlefield this year was made in Ukraine.

And at one such factory, I asked a young engineer: "How did you manage to achieve so much, how could these people do so much?" And the guy joked: "Well, they are not just people; they are rockets."

And you know, at that moment, I felt ashamed as a citizen that since the 90s, the state has overlooked such people. And I am proud when throughout the year, meeting with them, I hear: they are happy to be needed by Ukraine. And that Ukraine is building its own, its rockets again. And for the first time, producing more than a million drones in a year. Forcing the enemy to learn Ukrainian. "Palyanytsia," "Peklo," "Ruta." Making them shudder at the words "Neptune" and "Sapsan." All of these are our rockets. Ukrainian. "Hor," "Vampir," "Kolibri," "KAMIK," "Lyuty," Heavy Shot, Fire Point. All of these are our drones. Ukrainian. And all of these are our arguments, arguments for a just peace.

About the Victories of Usyk, Kharlan, and Mahuchikh

It is only the strong who receive it. And we have proven that we are strong time and again. Our athletes. Oleksandr Khizhnyak, our Tank. Olga Kharlan, Yaroslav Mahuchikh, all our Olympians and Paralympians, for whom we cheered so passionately, who made us cry with joy and pride when the blue and yellow flag was raised. We took hits and fought back together with Oleksandr Usyk. All of this is about something greater than just sport. It is about our character. About who we are and what we are capable of. Meanings and symbols. About how Sasha's fights, like the daily battles of all of Ukraine, show us: no matter how much bigger the opponent is, what matters is how much bigger your will is. Then it captivates the breath of the whole world! And all the leaders openly told me: "We have never seen anything like it — when a full house at Notre-Dame-de-Paris applauds." And these were applauses for you. For all our people. This is how respect for Ukraine sounds. This is what independence is.

About Ukrainians in Occupied Territories

This is when we do not give up what is ours. And when we do not forget our own. Those who are in captivity. And we will fight for every person who, unfortunately, is still there. And we will fight for all those whom Russia has driven into occupation but could not occupy their Ukrainian hearts. And no matter how much evil distributes passports under the barrels of guns, our people say: "You are not our own; you are temporary." And all that imported weed will not take root on our land; it will not defeat the natives. And I always remember the story of one of our Ukrainian grandfathers, whom the occupiers asked: "What time is it?" And he replied: "Time to leave our land." This is what the will inside means, which simply cannot be occupied. And I appeal to everyone who carries this will within them, in the temporarily occupied territories. Dear Ukrainians! I know that you are celebrating the New Year according to our time, and now you hear these words. In our Crimea, in Donbas, in Melitopol, in Mariupol — everywhere where Ukraine is awaited. And where Ukraine will one day return to be together. And the only thing that will separate Ukrainians will be a generously laid table.

About the US Elections and Support from Americans

I know: at this table will be all our people. Those who are currently abroad but have kept Ukraine within them. Therefore, today, at the first minute of the new year in Warsaw, New York, or Buenos Aires, "Shche ne vmerla..." will be heard. In Berlin, Prague, or Tokyo, they will say today: "Glory to Ukraine!" And the world will respond: "Glory to the heroes!" Because Ukraine is not alone. Because with us are our friends. And from the very first moments of this war, America has been with Ukraine. And I believe that America will be with Ukraine in the first moments of peace.

I remember a conversation with Joe Biden after the Russian invasion. I remember a conversation with Donald Trump after his election. All the conversations with congressmen, senators, ordinary Americans, with everyone who supports us in the USA, Europe, and the world — in these many different conversations, there has always been unity in the main: Putin cannot win. Ukraine will prevail. Putin must not win. Ukraine will win.

I thank all Americans for proving these words with actions. I have no doubt that the new American President wants and can bring peace and end Putin's aggression. He understands that the first is impossible without the second. Because this is not a street fight where you need to calm two sides. This is a full-scale aggression of a mad state against a civilized one. And I believe that together with the USA, we are capable of this strength. To force Russia to a just peace. That is,