Kyiv, Jan. 1 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his New Year address, underscored that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but will not accept any peace deal that undermines its sovereignty, stressing he would reject any agreement he considers weak or short-lived.

Delivering the 21-minute address from his office late Wednesday, with a New Year tree in the background, Zelenskyy acknowledged growing fatigue among Ukrainians after nearly four years of war, but said exhaustion should not be mistaken for defeat. He compared the duration of the conflict to the period of Nazi occupation of parts of Ukraine during World War II.

"What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No. We want an end to the war but not the end of Ukraine," Z...