🔗 Share this article Leader Zelenskyy Declares Ukraine Is Ten Percent Away from a Peace Deal, But Not at Any Cost As part of his year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible treaty was 90% prepared. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, 10% is left," he noted. "This is far more than simply numbers." An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not a Fragile Ceasefire Zelenskyy made clear that his country seeks peace but not at "any possible cost". "What is it that our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Yes. At any cost? No," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine." "Is the nation exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to capitulate? Any person who believes that is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy continued. He voiced skepticism about Moscow's intentions, stating that should troops pulled out from the Donbas region, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. That is how deception translates," he remarked. European Allies to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will establish firm pledges towards ensuring the security of the country following a potential peace deal with Russia is reached. Cross-Border Strikes Continue Meanwhile, accounts of military strikes continued. A source from Kyiv's security service reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze. On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, among them children. Officials confirmed multiple buildings were affected and considerable damage was reported to a couple of power facilities. Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack Regarding previous claims of a drone attack aimed at a property of Russia's president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. A report indicated that American security agencies concluded the alleged incident "never occurred". In response, The Russian ministry of defense released a video purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story. European Official Labels Claims a "Diversion" The EU's top diplomat described Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "No one should believe unfounded claims from the aggressor," she remarked. Other Updates North Korean Role: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "alien territory" in a New Year address. Reports suggest North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly given a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. This entity manages the country's sole oil refinery.