Staff Reports
In a stark contrast of New Year’s Eve messages, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took vastly different approaches to addressing their nations as they rang in the new year. Zelensky delivered a lengthy and poetic speech, lauding Ukraine’s strength and unity in the face of terror, while Putin made no mention of the brutal war he launched nearly two years ago that has resulted in the deaths and injuries of approximately a half-million troops.
Putin makes no mention of Ukraine war in New Year’s Eve speech as Zelensky rallies nation https://t.co/9WPduhFPno pic.twitter.com/QmQKVyVhTx
— New York Post (@nypost) January 1, 2024
Zelensky, showing great resolve, mentioned the words “war” or “warrior” a whopping 19 times throughout his address, emphasizing Ukraine’s fight for independence and the strength of its people. Meanwhile, Putin seemingly chose to ignore the war altogether, opting for a warm and fuzzy address that failed to acknowledge the devastating conflict.
The lack of acknowledgment of the ongoing war in Ukraine was made even more disturbing by the fact that Russia had just implemented a new law expanding the draft to include men up to the age of 30 to address mounting casualties in Putin’s military campaigns. Despite this significant change, Putin failed to mention the new draft requirements in his speech, instead choosing to focus on praising the Russian military for displaying “solidarity, mercy, and fortitude.”
The contrasting messages reflect the stark differences in leadership styles, with Zelensky choosing to center his address around the conflict, expressing gratitude and admiration for the courage of Ukrainian troops. Zelensky offered a message of hope and resilience, emphasizing Ukraine’s continued fight for survival and thanking the troops for their bravery and dedication in defending the nation.
Putin’s failure to address the ongoing war and the expansion of the draft further underscores his reluctance to acknowledge the human cost of his military actions. By choosing to focus on warm wishes and praising the Russian military without addressing the ongoing conflict, Putin missed an opportunity to show empathy and understanding for the devastating impact of his decisions on both Russian and Ukrainian lives.
