President Zelensky vows to increase production of Ukrainian weapons in New Year address amidst ongoing conflict

President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to significantly increase Ukraine's weapon production in the coming year. In his New Year's message, he emphasized his commitment to building at least one million drones. Meanwhile, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues, with five people killed in attacks in Odesa and the Russian-held Donetsk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his New Year address, praised his army without explicitly mentioning the war. He referred to them as heroes and focused on economic matters. Speaking on Sunday, Zelensky stated that in 2024 Ukraine would deliver F-16 fighter jets with the help of its Western partners. He expressed the intention to demonstrate Ukraine's military prowess to its enemies. Hours before Zelensky's message, more attacks occurred in Donetsk, resulting in four deaths and 13 injuries. In Odesa, one person was killed and three were wounded in a Russian drone attack. The conflict has intensified in recent days, with Russia launching strikes across Ukraine and Ukraine retaliating. Zelensky called upon Western allies to continue supporting Ukraine amidst uncertainty regarding aid from the US and Europe. Despite setbacks, Zelensky emphasized Ukraine's resilience in the face of Russia's invasion. Putin, in his New Year address, did not directly mention the war in Ukraine but praised those serving on the frontline and called them heroes.