As the world celebrates the arrival of the New Year 2025, global leaders have shared important updates and messages in their New Year greetings. From pledges of unity and progress to reflections on the challenges of the past year, leaders have used this moment to address their nations and the world.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged that his country would use 2025 to fight tirelessly to end the nearly three-year Russian invasion, pledging to do so by any means necessary.
The speech of the Ukrainian leader crosses a complicated year for the country devastated by the war, which has been fighting for almost 3 years opposed to a Russian army that is greater endowed with resources. “May 2025 be our year,” Zelensky said a speech to the country just before in kyiv.
Also read: ‘Idiot’: How Volodymyr Zelensky responds to Putin’s calls for a ‘high-tech duel’ amid Ukraine-Russia war
“We know that peace will not come to us as a gift, however, we will do everything to avoid Russia and end the war. ” Ukraine has lost seven times more territory to Russia this year than in 2023, according to an AFP analysis, and faces the option of US military and political relief as Donald Trump takes over as head of the White House. . Vladimir Putin of Russia
In his New Year’s Eve speech on Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russia’s achievements and pointed out that the Russians deserve to be “proud” of what the country had achieved in its 25 years in power. The speech, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of Boris Yeltsine, did not directly approach the existing conflict in Ukraine, but focused on messages full of hope for next year, as reported by the AFP.
“Dear friends, in a few minutes, will arrive 2025, completing the first quarter of the century,” Putin said in his televised speech. “Although there is still much to decide, we can be proud of what we have already achieved,” he said, emphasizing that the last 25 years had been the foundations for new progress.
Putin took on the role of acting president on New Year’s Eve in 1999 after Boris Yeltsin resigned, providing an apology for the post-Soviet struggles, a moment that left many Russians stunned, AFP noted.
In his New Year’s speech on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said no one can prevent China’s “reunification” with Taiwan, giving a clear warning to what Beijing sees as pro-independence forces both on the island and internationally.
Also read: No one can prevent China’s ‘national reunification’ with Taiwan, says Xi Jinping in New Year’s speech
“People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are a circle of relatives. No one can break our circle of family obligations and no one can prevent the historic trend of national reunification,” Xi said in a speech on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, congratulated the Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, as his “most beloved friend” in a New Year’s letter, congratulating the bilateral ties between the two nations, according to state media.
Also read: Kim Jong from North Korea greets his “very expensive friend” Putin
Kim’s latest message described Putin as his “dearest friend and comrade”, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The North’s leader sent “warm greetings of best wishes to the fraternal Russian people and all the service personnel of the brave Russian army on behalf of himself, the Korean people and all the service personnel of the armed forces of the DPRK”, it said, using an acronym of the North’s formal name.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his New Year’s wishes by 2025 to La Nación, hoping that he will provide new opportunities, good fortune and happiness to all. When taking X, he wrote: “Happy 2025! That this year brings to all new opportunities, good fortune and endless joy. Everyone may be endowed with glorious fitness and prosperity.
India welcomed 2025 with celebrations across the country, as others in cities marked the moment with joy and enthusiasm. New Year’s Eve celebrations have begun in many cities with parties, cultural events, live music performances and themed decorations. Many devotees in gigantic numbers even connected to the temples to offer prayers.
(With the contribution of the agencies)
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