President Zelenskyy Declares Ukraine Is Ten Percent Away from Peace, Yet Not at Any Price

As part of his year-end speech, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible peace deal was 90% complete. "This deal is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he noted. "This is much more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Robust Assurances, Not a Fragile Ceasefire

The president made clear that Ukraine wants peace but would not accept it at "any price". "What is it that our nation desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Any person who thinks so is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy added.

He voiced doubt about Russian intentions, stating that should forces pulled out from the Donbas region, the war would not end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. That is how a lie translates," he commented.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-War Security

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will make solid pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after a potential peace deal with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Kyiv's security service said that Ukrainian long-range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple buildings were damaged and significant damage was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Regarding recent claims of a drone strike aimed at a residence of Russian leader, US and European officials agree that Ukraine was not behind the incident. An article stated that American national security officials concluded the reported incident "did not happen".

In response, Russia's ministry of defense published a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "laughable" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

EU Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's claims "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should believe unfounded allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Other Developments

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops operating in an "alien territory" in a new year's message. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent a significant number of personnel to aid Russia's invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister given a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company operates the country's sole oil refinery.