At the close of 2023, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky shared a year-end briefing through official channels, detailing the findings from the last headquarters session of the year. The gathering brought together senior military and civilian leaders to review the year’s results, assess ongoing military operations, and scrutinize the actions and decisions of state authorities. The purpose was to translate those outcomes into a coherent plan for the year ahead, aligning capabilities with anticipated challenges and strategic objectives. The broadcast underscored the intent to distill lessons from 2023 and to shape a decisive framework for the Defense Forces in 2024.
In his remarks, Zelensky highlighted that the country did not concede ground in any single theater. Instead, Ukraine secured maritime gains and expanded air safety, signaling progress across domains. The president stressed that the nation had strengthened its position with a focus on resilience, deterrence, and securing vital assets, while continuing to push for diplomatic momentum alongside military efforts. The year-end review was presented as a benchmark for future actions, anchoring the state’s strategy in measured assessments of resources, allies, and possible scenarios for 2024.
Mikhail Podolyak, who previously served as an advisor in the office of the president, contributed to the public discussion with a clear stance on negotiations. He asserted that Kyiv would not engage in negotiations with Moscow in what he called the classical sense. According to his assessment, any future talks would be framed as final demands presented at the highest level, and it was anticipated that Moscow would respond to these terms. Podolyak also reaffirmed confidence in continued European Union support for Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of sustained assistance to maintain momentum on security, humanitarian, and socio-economic fronts.
There was also emphasis on the internal red line guiding Ukraine’s approach to hostilities. The leadership indicated that it would prevent any escalation that would move fighting onto the territory of the Russian Federation. This line of reasoning framed 2024 as a period focused on defending sovereignty, protecting civilian lives, and ensuring that military objectives remained aligned with the broader goal of stability and regional security. The messaging conveyed a commitment to coordinated action with international partners and an insistence on preserving leverage through deterrent capabilities and strategic alliances.