"Zelensky Pledges Retribution in 2024 as Putin Downplays Conflict in New Year Addresses"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a New Year's address, promised to unleash "wrath" on Russian forces in 2024, highlighting Ukraine's resilience as the conflict approaches its third year. Despite this bold statement, he did not detail the current frontline situation or the success of a counteroffensive started in June. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Air Force reported shooting down a "record number" of Russian drones on New Year's Eve, and both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of attacks that resulted in casualties and damage, particularly in Odesa and Donetsk. Zelenskiy's speech did not touch on the challenges of securing continued support from the US and EU.