‘May he perish…:’ Ukrainian President Zelenskyy makes striking remark against Putin, wishes for Russian President’s death during Christmas address

Zelenskyy stated that some documents of the peace deal are "fully prepared" after he held a discussion with United States envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed wishes for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s death during Christmas celebrations. He did not refer directly to Putin but wished that his “days” were finished. At present, Russia has not responded. Meanwhile, this statement has the potential to impact cease-fire negotiations between the two nations. Just a day before Christmas, Ukraine issued a 20-point peace proposal with the support of the United States.

Taking to X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted an eight-minute and twelve-second video, in which he stated, “despite all the suffering that Russia has brought, it is not capable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity.”

Appearing to allude to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said, “Today, we all share one dream. “And we make one wish – for all of us. ‘May he perish’, each of us may think to ourselves. But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater, we ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it, we pray for it, we deserve it,” he further said, without naming Putin. On Tuesday, Russia carried out coordinated attacks using missiles and drones on Ukraine that killed at least three civilians and created widespread power blackouts. Christmas night drone strikes on Odesa and Kharkiv caused two fatalities.

In his address, Zelensky said, “On the eve of Christmas, the Russians once again showed who they truly are. Massive shelling, hundreds of ‘shaheds’, ballistic missiles, Kinzhal strikes – everything was used. This is how the godless strike. For all our fallen heroes who defended Ukraine at the cost of their lives. For everyone whom Russia has driven into occupation and forced to flee,” as reported by The Independent.

It is important if we succeed in organizing what we discussed today with President Trump’s envoys. Some documents, as I see it, are nearly ready, and some documents are fully prepared. Of course, there is still work to be done on sensitive issues. But together with the American… pic.twitter.com/kCmrNOaQBQ

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 25, 2025

Earlier on Thursday (local time), he stated that some documents of the peace deal are “fully prepared” after he held a discussion with United States envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zelenskyy stated that the two nations must resolve the “sensitive issues” to reach a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. “It is important if we succeed in organising what we discussed today with President Trump’s envoys. Some documents, as I see it, are nearly ready, and some documents are fully prepared. Of course, there is still work to be done on sensitive issues. But together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place. The weeks ahead may also be intensive. Thank you, America,” the Ukrainian President said in a video message on X.

In a briefing, the Ukrainian president discussed the specifics of a 20-point document outlining his intentions to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Ukraine’s eastern industrial centre. He indicated that he was willing to withdraw troops but only on the condition that Russia also withdraws after which the area would become a demilitarised zone under international supervision.