🔗 Share this article Leader Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Was 10% Off from Peace, Yet Not at Any Possible Price As part of his New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was 90% ready. "The deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent is left," he noted. "This is far more than just numbers." An Agreement Requires Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Truce Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine desires an end to the war but would not accept it at "any price". "What is it that Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine." "Is the nation weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are prepared to give up? Anyone who believes that is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy added. He expressed doubt about Russian intentions, suggesting that should forces withdrew from the Donbas region, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. That is how deception sounds," he remarked. European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Security Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after a potential peace deal with Russia is brokered. Cross-Border Attacks Continue Meanwhile, accounts of hostile actions persisted. A source from Kyiv's security service reported that Ukrainian long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire. In southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, including children. Local authorities said four buildings were damaged and considerable damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities. Contested Allegations Over Aerial Attack Concerning previous claims of a drone strike targeting a residence of Russia's president, American and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the incident. A report indicated that US national security agencies determined the alleged incident "did not happen". Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a video purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story. European Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Diversion" The EU's top diplomat called Russia's assertions "an intentional distraction". "No one should believe unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she remarked. Other Developments DPRK Involvement: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a new year's address. Reports indicate North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Sanctions Extension: The US have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. This entity operates Serbia's only oil refinery.