President Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Is Ten Percent Away from Peace, But Not at Any Possible Price

As part of his New Year's Eve speech, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible treaty was ninety percent ready. "The deal is 90% ready, ten percent is left," he noted. "This is far more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Robust Guarantees, Not Weak Truce

Zelenskyy made clear that his country seeks an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What is it that our nation want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the destruction of our country."

"Is the nation weary? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to give up? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's intentions, stating that even if troops withdrew from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception translates," he commented.

EU Allies to Discuss Post-War Guarantees

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will make firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following any agreement with Moscow is reached.

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes continued. A source from Kyiv's security service reported that Ukrainian long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, among them minors. Officials said four buildings were affected and significant harm was reported to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Regarding previous claims of a UAV attack aimed at a residence of Russia's president, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the incident. A report stated that US national security officials concluded the alleged incident "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's ministry of defense published a footage purporting to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "No one should believe unfounded allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Other Developments

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "foreign land" in a new year's address. Reports suggest the country has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia's military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister given a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until late January. The company operates the country's only refinery.