In his New Year’s message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that his country’s armed forces would wipe out Russian troops who invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago. In 2024 “the enemy will feel the wrath (of weapons systems) of domestic production,” President Zelensky said, assuring that Ukraine would add one million drones to its arsenal.

After another year of war, “Ukraine has become stronger,” he stressed. “676 days ago, from this very point I addressed you, Ukrainians, to inform you about the start of a total war. We didn’t know what awaited us. Many did not think we would last even a week. Few believed we would make it to 2022, let alone survive 2023. And today we welcome 2024,” he continued.

He congratulated his country’s armed forces and all Ukrainians for their courage and heroism. “I feel proud of each and every one of you,” he said.

Referring to the EU’s decision to start accession negotiations with Kyiv, President Zelensky said the logical outcome of the process would be Ukraine’s full integration into the European Union, which would strengthen Europe. A Europe “strong from Lisbon to Luhansk”, as he said.

On grain exports after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Initiative, he said the new corridor created by Kyiv had yielded results, with “13 million tons of Ukrainian grain” transported through it to foreign markets to date.

Without mentioning the balance on the front line and the meager results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in the summer, Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of “diplomatic victories” last year, making special mention of Kiev’s “peace formula”, which already support “80 countries” of the world.

He thanked allies for providing military aid to his country, recalling that Ukrainian pilots are being trained on the F-16 fighter jets that “soon we will see in our skies.”

“This year, the enemy will realize… that he has no place here!”, stressed the president of Ukraine.