Zelensky offers demilitarized zone in eastern Ukraine in bid to bring an end to war with Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky has wished for Vladimir Putin to die in his annual Christmas address – as he offers to create a demilitarised zone in Ukraine to bring an end to the war with Russia. 

The Ukrainian president called for his Russian counterpart to ‘perish’ in a pre-recorded statement posted to his X account on Christmas Eve. 

In the clip captioned ‘Merry Christmas!’, filmed in front of a warmly lit festive backdrop, he said: ‘Today we all share one dream. And we make one wish together. 

‘”May he [Putin] perish,” each of us may think privately, but when we turn to God, of course, we ask for more. We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it.’ 

Mr Zelensky’s strong words come after a conciliatory offer he made today in a bid to stop the conflict with Russia, which has now been raging for nearly four years.  

He suggested creating a demilitarised zone in the east of his country in a bid to speed up marathon peace plan negotiations with US officials in Florida. 

Elsewhere in his Christmas address, the Ukrainian premier – wearing a traditional embroidered shirt, in his customary black – said: ‘We celebrate Christmas in a difficult time.  

‘Sadly, not all of us are at home this evening, not all of us still have a home, and not all of us, unfortunately, are with us today. 

The Ukrainian president called for his Russian counterpart to ‘perish’ in a pre-recorded statement (pictured) posted to his X account on Christmas Eve

He said: ‘Today we all share one dream. And we make one wish together. ‘”May he [Putin] perish,” each of us may think privately’. Pictured: Putin on Christmas Eve 

‘Yet despite all the hardships brought by Russia, it is incapable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity. 

‘We are happy when we hear the music of Christmas, but even happier when we do not hear the music of evil, when we do not hear drones and missiles flying overhead. 

‘On the eve before Christmas, the Russians once again showed who they really are. Massive shelling, hundreds of Shahed drones, ballistic missiles, Kinzhal missiles—everything was used. 

‘This is how godless people strike. This is what those who have absolutely nothing in common with Christianity or with anything human do. 

‘But we are holding on. We support one another. And today we pray for everyone on the front line to return alive, for everyone in captivity to come home.’ 

It follows Mr Zelensky’s bombshell announcement today after talks with US officials in Florida. 

He said in his speech Kyiv and Washington had reached a consensus on most elements of a proposed 20-point plan aimed at stopping the conflict. 

But the PM said major disagreements remain over the future of Ukraine’s eastern territories and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

The plan, which reflects Ukraine’s position, has now been shown to Russian negotiators, with Moscow expected to respond on Wednesday. 

Mr Zelensky said the framework attempts to balance security guarantees with economic arrangements designed to stabilise disputed regions.  

At the centre of the talks is the fate of the Donbas, Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 

Putin’s forces currently control most of Luhansk, and around 70 per cent of Donetsk, and the Kremlin continues to demand that Ukraine cede the remaining territory they have not captured, a position Kyiv has rejected.

Mr Zelensky described the issue as ‘the most difficult point’ in the negotiations, saying it would ultimately need to be addressed at the level of national leaders.

He said: ‘We are in a situation where the Russians want us to leave the Donetsk region, and the Americans are trying to find a way so that it is “not a way out” – because we are against leaving – they want to find a demilitarised zone or a free economic zone in this, that is, a format that can provide for the views of both sides.’ 

Elsewhere in his Christmas address (pictured), the Ukrainian premier – wearing a traditional embroidered shirt, in his customary black – said: ‘We celebrate Christmas in a difficult time’ 

Mr Zelensky’s strong words against Putin come despite a conciliatory offer he made today in a bid to stop the conflict with Russia, which has now been raging for nearly four years. Pictured: The Ukrainian president at a meeting in Kyiv on Monday 

He suggested creating a demilitarised zone in the east of his country in a bid to speed up marathon peace plan negotiations with US officials in Florida. Pictured: Paramedics and police psychologists help residents at the site of a Russian strike on Ukraine on December 19, which left several injured

Under proposals being discussed, parts of the eastern front line could be transformed into either demilitarized zones or free economic zones, with international forces deployed to ensure security.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine would only accept such arrangements if they were approved by a nationwide referendum.

Ukraine is demanding that any demilitarised area be monitored by an international force to prevent Russian troops or covert units from re-entering the zone.

‘Since there is no faith in the Russians, and they have repeatedly broken their promises, today’s contact line is turning into a line of a de facto free economic zone, and international forces should be there to guarantee that no one will enter there under any guise – neither “little green men” nor Russian military disguised as civilians,’ Mr Zelensky said.

The draft agreement proposes freezing the current contact line across five Ukrainian regions once a deal is signed. 

Ukraine says hostilities must halt for at least 60 days to allow time for any referendum to take place.

Another unresolved issue is the management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, which has been under Russian occupation since the early months of the invasion. 

The United States has proposed a consortium involving Ukraine and Russia, with each side holding an equal stake.

Mr Zelensky said Kyiv instead favours a joint venture with the United States, in which the Americans would determine how their share is distributed.

‘We did not reach a consensus with the American side on the territory of the Donetsk region and on the ZNPP,’ he said. 

‘But we have significantly brought most of the positions closer together. In principle, all other consensus in this agreement has been found between us and them.’

The Ukrainian president said two sections of the draft, Point 14, dealing with territorial arrangements along the eastern front, and Point 12, covering the nuclear plant, are likely to be the biggest obstacles in the next phase of talks.

The plan also calls for Russian forces to withdraw from Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions, with international forces stationed along the contact line to oversee compliance.

Ukraine has additionally proposed turning the occupied city of Enerhodar, which is linked to the Zaporizhzhia plant, into a demilitarized free economic zone.

Mr Zelensky said the final decision would rest with the Ukrainian people. ‘People can choose: this ending suits us or not,’ he said.

This week, Mr Zelensky said officials were making ‘solid’ progress during the talks. Despite this, Russia has continued its barrage of attacks on Kyiv and several other regions across the country, leaving several people either killed or injured. 

Under proposals being discussed, parts of the eastern front line could be transformed into either demilitarized zones or free economic zones, with international forces deployed to ensure security. Pictured: Putin earlier this week  

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine would only accept such arrangements if they were approved by a nationwide referendum. Pictured: A Ukrainian serviceman walking near apartment buildings in the country’s Donetsk region, which were destroyed after Russian attacks this week 

Many homes have also been left without power amidst freezing temperatures after Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. 

Meanwhile, on Monday, a major Russian military leader was killed after a bomb placed under his car detonated. 

Russian officials have said it was looking into whether the official was assassinated by Ukraine.

Last week, US intelligence warned that Putin is still determined to capture all of Ukraine, despite the peace talks. 

European and NATO leaders have also repeatedly cautioned that Putin could launch an attack on member states in the next five years.