War in Ukraine Jan 1 (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy honoured his people's resilience in times of bloodshed in a long and lyrical new year speech, while russian leader vladimir putin stressed his country's unity in a short and stern message that made only passing reference to the war.Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the resilience of his people in his long lyrical New Year's address, while Russian leader Vladimir Putin emphasized Russia's unity in a short and harsh speech – mentioning only the war.
the speeches - traditional dec. 31 messages in both russia and ukraine - came as both countries marked the end of the year with increased air attacks on each other's territories. but neither side can point to any major frontline achievements in 2023.
These speeches are traditional for Russia and Ukraine on December 31, a year that ended as both countries ramped up air strikes on each other's territory. But neither side can point out what significant achievements will be made at the front in 2023.
the major result of the year, its main achievement: ukraine has become stronger," zelenskiy said in a televised address interspersed with footage of cities under attack and meetings with leaders of ukraine's western allies."The main result, the main achievement of this year: Ukraine has become stronger," Zelenskyy said in a televised address. The speech was interspersed with images of the city being attacked, as well as images of his meeting with the leaders of Ukraine's Western allies.
mentioning "war" 14 times in his 20-minute message, zelenskiy also vowed, just like a year ago, that a free ukraine would prevail.
Zelenskyy mentioned "war" 14 times in his 20-minute speech, and he also vowed that, just like a year ago, free Ukraine would prevail.
no matter how many rockets the enemy launches, no matter how many shellings and attacks - vile, merciless, massive - the enemy carries out in an attempt to break ukrainians, intimidate, knock ukraine down, drive it underground, we will still rise," he said, dressed in his trademark khaki outfit."No matter how many rockets the enemy fires, no matter how many vile, ruthless, massive shelling and attacks the enemy carries out in an attempt to crush the Ukrainians, intimidate Ukraine, bring Ukraine down, drive it underground, we will still stand up," he said. "He wears his signature khaki outfit.
comments by putin, who faces an election in march, provided a sharp contrast to those of zelenskiy and also to his own speech last year, when he cast the war as a near-existential fight.
Putin's remarks stand in stark contrast to Zelenskyy's, as well as his remarks last year, when he described the war as a near-existential battle.
this year, he called russia's soldiers "our heroes," but did not mention ukraine by name and did not refer to the "special military operation" - his term for the war his invasion unleashed in february 2022.
This year, he called Russian soldiers "our heroes," but did not mention Ukraine by name, nor did he mention the "special military operation" — his name for the war triggered by the invasion of Russia in February 2022.
we h**e proven more than once that we can solve the most difficult problems and will never retreat, because there is no force that can divide us," putin said in a four-minute speech, dressed in a suit and a red tie against a backdrop of the kremlin walls.
We have proven more than once that we are capable of solving the most difficult problems and that we will never back down because no force can ** us," Putin said in a four-minute speech. He wears a suit and a red tie against the background of the Kremlin walls. 
we are one country, one big family.""We are one country, one big family. ”
the war - the deadliest conflict in europe since world war ii - is nearing its second anniversary, with no end in sight. thousands h**e been killed, millions of ukrainians displaced and countless cities turned to rubble.The war, Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, is now approaching its second anniversary with no end in sight. Thousands of people have been killed, millions of Ukrainians have been lost, countless cities have been reduced to rubble.
neither putin nor zelenskiy referred to the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line where kyiv's counteroffensive had little success and where moscow has been pushing on with its most recent but slow offensive along the eastern flank aiming to take control of more ukrainian territory.
Neither Putin nor Zelenskyy mentioned the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) long front, Ukraine's ** has had little success, and Russia has recently launched a slow offensive on its eastern flank with the aim of taking control of more Ukrainian territory.
and while zelenskiy spoke of 6,000 or so air raid alerts in ukraine in the past year, putin made no mention of any attacks - not even an attack russia says ukraine carried out on belgorod in recent days killing at least 24 civilians.
While Zelenskyy spoke of about about 6,000 air raid alerts in Ukraine over the past year, Putin did not mention any of the attacks, not even what Russia says Ukraine has launched in Belgorod in recent days, killing at least 24 civilians.
both spoke of the strength of their countries and their people, with putin saying the future common effort will make russia and its people stronger and zelenskiy saying the war had already showed the strength of ukrainians.
Both spoke about the strength of their respective countries and peoples, with Putin saying that future joint efforts will make Russia and its people stronger, and Zelenskyy saying that the war has already shown the strength of Ukrainians.