Zelenskyy says he wishes for Putin to ‘die’ in Christmas message

That's one hell of a Christmas wish

The war in Ukraine began nearly four years ago now, and Zelenskyy used his festive speech to share some choice words for the Russian leader.

"'May he perish,' each of us may think to ourselves," Zelenskyy said, in reference to Putin.

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

"We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it. And we deserve it," he continued.

He added: "That there may be a victory of peace. That there may be us. And that there may be Ukraine."

Zelenskyy also reflected on the wider impact of the war across Ukraine.

"Sadly, not all of us are at home this evening, not all of us still have a home, and not all of us, unfortunately, are with us today," he said.

"Yet despite all the hardships brought by Russia, it is incapable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity.

"We are happy when we hear the music of Christmas, but even happier when we do not hear the music of evil, when we do not hear drones and missiles flying overhead."

Zelenskyy warned Ukraine of attacks over Christmas, with the latest Russian strike being on December 23, which killed at least three people and injured 12.