Joanna Kakissis

Zelensky spoke in his office, a Christmas tree twinkling in the background, and he said Russia's nearly four-year full-scale war on Ukraine has exhausted the country.

He said Ukrainians have held on for more than 1,400 days, longer than the Nazi occupation of many cities during World War II.

He said Ukraine wants peace, but not at any cost.

It wants an end to the war, but not an end to Ukraine.

Zelensky said a peace proposal is 90 percent finished.

Russia has already rejected points in this proposal.

Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

Russia controls about 70% of Ukraine's southeastern region of Zaporizhia.

President Trump says Putin tells him he wants peace, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the Russian leader is not sincere.

Zelensky is saying Putin tells the President of the United States that he wants to end the war, but then says through media that he will continue the war, striking Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones.

Russia says it is changing its stance in negotiations after claiming Ukraine tried to attack one of Putin's homes.

Zelensky says this is a lie and Russia is using it as a pretext to expand attacks on Ukraine.

Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

Russia attacked Kyiv and surrounding areas with hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as hundreds of strike drones.

Speaking to reporters via voice message, Zelensky said Russia showed what it thinks of intensive efforts to end this war.

They responded with a massive attack on Ukraine, he said.

If the American side wants to hold a wartime referendum or elections, we cannot do it under conditions like these.

Zelensky has said several times that he is ready to hold a referendum on the latest peace proposal

if security is guaranteed for voters.

Zelensky said that security guarantees are a main focus of talks with the Trump administration.