Russian invasionRussian reactions

Putin during the New Year's address. Mikhail Klimentyev / AP  

Russian invasionRussian reactions  

The belligerent Putin in this year's New Year's speech: "The West lied"  

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a combative and confrontational speech to the Russian people on New Year's Eve, Reuters reports.  

Standing in front of a group of soldiers - instead of in the Kremlin, as he usually does - Putin repeated his usual accusations of Ukrainian "neo-Nazis" and a Western world whose goal is to "destroy Russia". 

- The West lied about peace [...] and now they cynically use Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia.  

Despite the fact that the Russian offensive in Ukraine has not made any significant achievements in six months, the president warned that the "special military operation" will end in victory. 

Zelenskyi. AP   

The Russian InvasionThe Battles 

Zelenskyy: "Happy New Year - the year we win"  

In a New Year's greeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi predicts victory over Russia in 2023, through hard work and help from foreign partners.  

"Happy New Year! The year we win," writes the president on Twitter. 

Furthermore, Zelenskyy adds that "the light is within all of us" – a reference to the widespread blackouts caused by the Russian attacks during the winter.