🔗 Share this article President Zelenskyy States The Nation Was 10% Away from a Peace Deal, But Not at Any Price In a New Year's Eve speech, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential treaty was ninety percent ready. "This peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he said. "And that is far more than just numbers." An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not Weak Truce The president stressed that Ukraine seeks peace but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does our nation want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the destruction of our country." "Is the nation weary? Very. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Any person who believes that is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy continued. He expressed doubt about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he remarked. European Allies to Discuss Post-War Security Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will make solid pledges towards protecting the country following a potential peace deal with Russia is brokered. Reciprocal Strikes Continue At the same time, accounts of military actions persisted. A source from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukrainian long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze. On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring several people, among them minors. Officials confirmed multiple buildings were damaged and considerable harm was reported to a couple of power facilities. Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack Regarding recent allegations of a UAV strike targeting a property of Russian president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the incident. A report indicated that American security agencies concluded the reported attack "never occurred". In response, The Russian defence ministry released a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and stated it showed a lack of credibility in creating the narrative. European Diplomat Labels Allegations a "Distraction" The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's claims "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should believe baseless allegations from the invading force," she remarked. Other Developments North Korean Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "foreign land" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian military campaign in Ukraine. Restrictions Extension: The US have according to a minister granted a temporary exemption from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity operates Serbia's sole oil refinery.