President Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Was 10% Off from Peace, But Not at Any Possible Cost

As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace deal was ninety percent prepared. "This deal is 90% ready, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is far more than just figures."

An Agreement Requires Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Truce

Zelenskyy stressed that his country desires peace but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What does our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he said. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the end of Ukraine."

"Are we weary? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who thinks so is profoundly wrong," he added.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's intentions, stating that even if forces withdrew from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie translates," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-War Guarantees

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will make solid commitments towards protecting Ukraine after a potential peace deal with Russia is reached.

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, reports of hostile strikes continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large fire.

In southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, including children. Officials said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and considerable damage was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Aerial Incident

Concerning previous allegations of a drone attack aimed at a property of Russian leader, American and European authorities agree that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report indicated that American security agencies determined the alleged attack "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry released a video purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the story.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• North Korean Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops operating in an "alien land" in a New Year message. Reports suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to aid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister given a temporary exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's sole refinery.