🔗 Share this article President Zelenskyy States Ukraine Was 10% Away from a Peace Deal, Yet Not at Any Possible Cost During his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "This peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% is left," he said. "And that is far more than simply figures." An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not a Weak Ceasefire Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine desires peace but not at "any possible cost". "What is it that Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Yes. At any cost? No," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the destruction of our country." "Is the nation weary? Very. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Any person who believes that is deeply mistaken," he added. He voiced doubt about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the eastern region, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception translates," he remarked. European Allies to Plan Post-War Guarantees Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will establish solid pledges towards ensuring the security of the country after a potential peace deal with Russia is brokered. Cross-Border Strikes Reported At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire. In Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck residential blocks and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding several people, including minors. Local authorities confirmed four apartment buildings were damaged and significant damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities. Disputed Allegations Over Drone Incident Regarding recent claims of a drone strike targeting a property of Russian leader, US and European authorities agree that Ukraine did not target the incident. A report stated that American national security agencies determined the reported incident "did not happen". Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense published a footage claiming to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the narrative. European Diplomat Labels Allegations a "Diversion" The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's claims "an intentional distraction". "No one should accept baseless claims from the invading force," she said. Other Updates DPRK Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "foreign land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent a significant number of troops to aid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly granted a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. The company manages Serbia's only refinery.