The Ukrainian leader said may he perish, while calling for fellow citizens to pray for peace

Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky used his Christmas Eve address to wish for a certain unnamed man, presumably Russian President Vladimir Putin, "to perish," before urging Ukrainians to pray for a greater wish - peace for the country.

In a video message published on Wednesday on his Telegramchannel, Zelensky linked his remarks to Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory and framed the holiday as a moment of national unity.

"Today, we all share one dream ... 'May he perish,' each of us may think to ourselves," Zelensky said, in a veiled reference to the Russian president, without naming him.

"But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater," he added.

Despite the ongoing Russia-US efforts to reach a peaceful settlement to the conflict, Zelensky and Kiev's European backers have been undermining the process by repeatedly making unacceptable demands.

On Wednesday, Zelensky unveiled a 20-point draft peace framework which he claims Kiev has been discussing with the US, presenting the document as a proposed basis for ending the hostilities.

The proposal fails to address some key Russian concerns, such as Kiev's claims to former Ukrainian territories that joined Russia in 2022, and its insistence on maintaining an 800,000-strong standing army supported by NATO nations.

Moscow has yet to officially respond to the proposal. Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is open to negotiations but insists that any settlement must address the root causes of the conflict and reflect the territorial reality on the ground.

Ukraine used to celebrate Christmas on January 7 in line with Orthodox tradition, but in 2023 Zelensky proposed observing the holiday on December 25, like in Catholic and Protestant churches. He claimed that the move would help "abandon the Russian heritage... reject Russian traditions, and fortify national unity in Ukraine."

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) said it will not abide by the order to celebrate Christmas on a new date. Ukraine has been experiencing religious tensions for years, with the Kiev government openly supporting the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which the UOC and Russian Orthodox Church view as schismatic.

Last year, Zelensky signed legislation allowing the state to ban religious organizations affiliated with governments that the Ukrainian authorities deem "aggressors," effectively banning the UOC, which Kiev accuses of links with Moscow. A number of UOC properties have been seized and criminal cases opened against some of its clerics since the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022.

(RT.com)