Leader Zelenskyy States The Nation Is Ten Percent Away from Peace, Yet Not at Any Possible Cost

As part of his year-end message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace agreement was 90% ready. "The deal is 90% complete, ten percent remains," he remarked. "And that is much more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Robust Assurances, Not Fragile Truce

The president emphasized that his country wants peace but not at "any possible price". "What is it that Ukraine desires? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No," he declared. "We want an end to the war but not the end of our country."

"Are we weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are prepared to capitulate? Anyone who believes that is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's intentions, stating that even if forces pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how a lie translates," he remarked.

European Leaders to Plan Post-War Security

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards protecting the country after any agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Attacks Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of military actions persisted. A source from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

In Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant damage was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Incident

Concerning previous allegations of a drone attack targeting a residence of Russian president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target the incident. An article indicated that American national security agencies concluded the alleged attack "never occurred".

In response, Russia's defence ministry released a footage claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

EU Diplomat Calls Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas called Russia's claims "an intentional diversion". "No one should believe unfounded allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Other Updates

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent thousands of troops to support the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have according to a minister given a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity operates the country's sole oil refinery.