President Zelenskyy Declares Ukraine Is Ten Percent Off from Peace, Yet Not at Any Cost

As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible peace agreement was 90% prepared. "The deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is much more than simply numbers."

A Deal Requires Strong Guarantees, Not a Weak Ceasefire

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

"Is the nation exhausted? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to surrender? Anyone who believes that is deeply wrong," he continued.

He expressed doubt about Russian aims, suggesting that should forces withdrew from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he commented.

European Allies to Plan Post-War Guarantees

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will make firm pledges towards ensuring the security of the country after any peace deal with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Continue

At the same time, accounts of military strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit residential blocks and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring several people, among them minors. Officials confirmed four apartment buildings were affected and significant damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Regarding recent allegations of a UAV strike targeting a property of Russia's leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. An article stated that American security agencies concluded the reported incident "did not happen".

In response, Russia's defence ministry published a video claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "laughable" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

EU Diplomat Labels Claims a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's assertions "an intentional distraction". "No one should believe unfounded allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "alien territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent a significant number of troops to aid Russia's military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's sole refinery.