đź”— Share this article Leader Zelenskyy Declares The Nation Was Ten Percent Away from Peace, Yet Not at Any Possible Cost During his New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "This deal is 90 percent ready, 10% is left," he said. "This is much more than just numbers." A Deal Requires Robust Guarantees, Not a Fragile Ceasefire Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does Ukraine want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the war but not the end of Ukraine." "Is the nation weary? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who believes that is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued. He voiced doubt about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if troops pulled out from the eastern Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how deception translates," he remarked. EU Leaders to Discuss Post-War Guarantees In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron stated that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will establish solid pledges towards protecting the country following any peace deal with Russia is reached. Reciprocal Strikes Continue At the same time, accounts of military actions persisted. A source from Ukraine's security service reported that Ukrainian long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze. In Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed four buildings were affected and significant damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities. Contested Claims Over Aerial Incident Concerning previous allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russian leader, US and European authorities agree that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. A report indicated that US national security agencies determined the alleged attack "did not happen". In response, Russia's defence ministry released a video purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the evidence as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative. EU Diplomat Labels Claims a "Diversion" The EU's top diplomat called Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should believe unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she remarked. Additional Updates North Korean Involvement: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "alien land" in a new year's message. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to support Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. Restrictions Extension: The US have according to a minister given a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until late January. This entity manages Serbia's only oil refinery.