Zelenskyy warns Russia plans 2026 “Year of War” after Putin pledge
Russia (Washington Insider) – Ukrainian President
Zelenskyy warned that Russia plans a “year of war” in 2026 after Putin vowed to
achieve goals, including seizing Ukrainian territories, signalling heightened
military threats and regional instability.
As Alarabiya English News reported, Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025, that Russia is preparing
to make 2026 a “year of war” against his country.
His statement followed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s
claim that Moscow will “certainly” achieve its goals in Ukraine. These goals
include taking control of territories that Ukraine and the international
community consider part of Ukraine.
What is Zelenskyy warning about Russia’s “Year of War” in
2026?
Analysts said Putin’s remarks could mean that Russia is
planning a more aggressive phase of the conflict next year. Zelenskyy
stressed that Ukraine must stay ready and continue defending itself on all
fronts.
The warning comes after a year of continuous fighting in
Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have faced repeated attacks across many regions.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs strong international support to strengthen its
defence systems.
On February 24, 2022, Russia started invading Ukraine by
launching a wide-ranging offensive against it. The conflict has spread to
multiple areas in Ukraine, including eastern and southern Ukraine, with
enormous casualties and extensive destruction caused by the conflict.
Russia has claimed ownership of some areas of Donetsk,
Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia; however, Ukrainian forces have
counterattacked to reclaim their territory. There were attempts at establishing
peace between both parties in 2023 and 2024; however, conflicts continued to
arise during those years.