Zelensky spoke in a video address to the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Tallinn, which brought together representatives from 10 northern European countries this week.

"We all understand that next year could be the year this war ends. We must make it happen," Zelensky said.

"We need to establish peace in a way that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin can no longer break, a peace that's not just a pause, but a real, lasting peace," he added.

US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to push for a quick deal to halt the fighting when he assumes office in January.

That has sparked fears in Kyiv and Europe that Ukraine could be pushed to make concessions to Moscow.

The members of the JEF summit also stressed the importance of a fair and lasting peace.

"A comprehensive, just and lasting peace requires full and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian forces and military assets from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders," they said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

JEF includes the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Nordic states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, as well as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The countries said their military assistance to Ukraine would top 12 billion euros ($12.6 billion) next year.