President Zelenskyy States Ukraine Is Ten Percent Away from a Peace Deal, Yet Not at Any Price

During his New Year's Eve speech, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace agreement was 90% prepared. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent is left," he noted. "And that is much more than simply figures."

A Deal Needs Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Truce

The president emphasized that Ukraine seeks peace but not at "any possible cost". "What is it that Ukraine want? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "We want an end to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to capitulate? Anyone who thinks so is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy added.

He voiced skepticism about Russian aims, stating that even if troops pulled out from the eastern region, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how deception translates," he remarked.

European Leaders to Plan Post-War Guarantees

Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will make solid commitments towards ensuring the security of the country after any peace deal with Russia is reached.

Reciprocal Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, reports of hostile strikes continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, including minors. Local authorities confirmed four buildings were damaged and significant harm was caused to two energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Attack

Concerning previous allegations of a UAV strike targeting a residence of Russia's leader, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. An article indicated that US national security agencies determined the reported attack "did not happen".

In response, The Russian defence ministry published a footage purporting to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "laughable" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

EU Official Labels Allegations a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Other Developments

• North Korean Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to support Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister granted a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. The company manages the country's sole oil refinery.