🔗 Share this article President Zelensky States The Nation Is 10% Off from Peace, But Not at Any Cost As part of his New Year's Eve speech, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential treaty was 90% ready. "This peace agreement is 90% ready, 10% remains," he remarked. "And that is much more than just numbers." An Agreement Requires Strong Assurances, Not Fragile Truce Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine desires an end to the war but would not accept it at "any cost". "What is it that Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine." "Is the nation weary? Very. Does this mean we are ready to capitulate? Any person who thinks so is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy added. He expressed skepticism about Russian aims, stating that should forces withdrew from the eastern region, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how deception translates," he commented. European Allies to Discuss Post-War Guarantees Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will establish firm pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after any agreement with Russia is brokered. Reciprocal Attacks Continue At the same time, accounts of military strikes continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukrainian long-range drones struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze. In southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Officials confirmed multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant harm was caused to two power facilities. Contested Claims Over Drone Attack Regarding recent claims of a drone attack targeting a property of Russian president, US and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. A report stated that American national security agencies concluded the alleged incident "did not happen". Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense published a footage purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story. EU Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion" The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's claims "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should believe baseless allegations from the invading force," she remarked. Other Developments North Korean Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Restrictions Reprieve: The US have reportedly granted a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity operates the country's sole refinery.