Putin vows victory in Ukraine in New Year’s address amid Trump-backed peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin utilized his New Year’s code to present a blunt connection to the West and to his ain troops: Russia is not backing down successful Ukraine.

As 2026 arrived successful Russia’s acold eastbound regions, Putin vowed triumph successful the astir four-year war, praising Russian soldiers and framing the struggle arsenic a combat for the nation’s endurance — adjacent arsenic the United States ramps up diplomatic efforts aimed astatine ending the bloodshed.

"We judge successful you and our victory," Putin said successful remarks broadcast nationwide and released by the Kremlin connected Wednesday. Addressing troops directly, helium congratulated "all our soldiers and commanders" and pledged continued enactment for what Moscow calls its "special subject operation."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his New Year’s code from the Kremlin, vowing triumph successful the warfare successful Ukraine. (East2West)

Putin formed the warfare arsenic a conflict for Russia’s homeland, "truth and justice," signaling determination to property up contempt mounting losses and planetary pressure.

In a abstracted message, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev — Putin’s information assembly lawman — said of triumph successful Ukraine: "I sincerely judge that it is near." Echoing Putin, helium spoke of "our large and invincible Russia."

The defiant code comes arsenic the warfare approaches grim milestones. On Jan. 12, Russia’s penetration of Ukraine volition surpass the 1,418 days the Soviet Union fought Nazi Germany successful Europe during World War II. On Feb. 24, the struggle volition participate its 4th year. Western estimates spot the fig of killed and wounded astatine much than 1 cardinal — a fig the Kremlin disputes.

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The parent of a Russian worker who was killed successful a subject enactment successful Ukraine, kneels adjacent a planted histrion successful representation of her lad astatine the Alley of Heroes successful Sevastopol, Crimea, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.  (AP Photo)

Putin’s rhetoric stood successful crisp opposition to renewed diplomatic enactment led by Washington.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump astatine Trump’s Mar-a-Lago edifice successful Florida connected Sunday, arsenic the White House explores imaginable paths to extremity Europe’s largest onshore warfare since World War II.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shingle hands astatine a quality league pursuing a gathering astatine Trump’s Mar-a-Lago nine connected December 28, 2025 successful Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

After the meeting, Trump said Ukraine and Russia were "closer than ever" to peace, portion acknowledging that large obstacles — peculiarly territorial disputes — stay unresolved. Reuters separately reported that Trump and Zelenskyy discussed imaginable U.S. unit engagement arsenic portion of broader information guarantees, though nary decisions were announced.

Reuters contributed to this report.