Vladimir Putin called last year a year of difficult but necessary decisions, but according to the Russian president, important steps were taken "toward the full sovereignty of Russia and the strong consolidation of their society." He explained: the West lied to them about peace while preparing for aggression, and now they do not hesitate to cynically admit that they are using Ukraine to weaken and divide Russia. "We have never allowed this to anyone, and we will not allow it now," the Russian president emphasized.

"This year put a lot of things in place and drew a clear line between courage and heroism on the one hand, and betrayal and cowardice on the other," Vladimir Putin began his New Year's greeting with this thought. The Russian president said: "2022 was the year of decisive events". He emphasized that they are fighting the war for their independence, "protecting our people in our historical territories located in the new regions of the Russian Federation".

Russia's future is most important. Protecting our homeland is our sacred duty to our ancestors and descendants. Moral and historical truth is on our side

– formulated by Vladimir Putin, adding:

The past year has brought great and dramatic changes in our country and in the world. It was full of uncertainty, anxiety and worry. But our nation showed great courage and dignity and, as so many times in our history, supported the soldiers and fighters defending our country.

The president emphasized:

We have always known that Russia is sovereign, independent and secure, the future of which depends only on us, our strength and our determination.

Putin also spoke about how the Western elite hypocritically assured them of their peaceful intentions for years, including the resolution of the serious conflict in Donbass.

But in fact, they have encouraged the neo-Nazis in every possible way, who continue to carry out military and outright terrorist actions against peaceful civilians.

He highlighted:

The West lied to us about peace while preparing for aggression, and now they do not hesitate to openly cynically admit that they are using Ukraine to weaken and divide Russia. We have never allowed anyone to do this, and we will not allow it now. Russian soldiers, militants and volunteers are now fighting for their homeland, for truth and justice, for reliable guarantees of peace and security of Russia. They are all our heroes and right now they are carrying the heaviest burden.

In his speech, Vladimir Putin, in addition to his New Year's greeting, also thanked the "courageous service of our comrades". He put it like this:

Our great country is proud of your fortitude, perseverance and courage. Millions of people are with you in heart and soul.

He also touched on the fact that sanctions have been imposed on Russia since the events in Crimea in 2014, but in 2022 a full-scale sanctions war was launched against them in order to collapse the Russian industry and economic sector, banking system and infrastructure. According to Putin, this did not happen because "together we created a reliable security border. In order to strengthen our sovereignty, we have taken important steps in the economy."

Our fight for our country, our interests and our future undoubtedly serves as an inspiring example for other states in their pursuit of a just multipolar world order.

According to Putin, despite the difficulties, social cohesion and empathy have become increasingly prominent in Russia. More and more people feel the need to help others, for which the president thanked them.

My friends, you provide great support to families who have lost loved ones in war. Those who sacrificed their lives for the lives of others. I know how difficult it is now for widowed wives, orphaned sons and daughters, and their parents who raised real heroes; I understand how you feel now, on New Year's Eve. We do everything we can to help the families of our fallen comrades to raise their children, to receive a proper education and to acquire a profession. I share their pain with all my heart.  

Putin said in his New Year's greeting that the beginning of the New Year was one of his favorite holidays for Russians, even in difficult times. In his words, "it has a magical power, it reinforces the best in people, such as the importance of traditional family values, kindness, trust and generosity", which gives them strength. He added: New Year's Eve is also an excellent opportunity to "put aside our grievances and tell our family members and friends how much we love them and fear and protect them." According to the Russian president, together they will be able to overcome the challenges and preserve Russia's greatness and independence, and in his speech he wished his nation a lot of strength for this.

Source: Official site of the Kremlin, 

about the Ukrainian president's New Year's speech here . In his message, Zelensky said that he does not wish for miracles, because these days Ukrainians create them themselves. As he said, he doesn't want true friends either, because he thinks the war has shown who they are.