🔗 Share this article Leader Zelenskyy States Ukraine Is Ten Percent Away from a Peace Deal, But Not at Any Possible Cost During his New Year's Eve message, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "This peace agreement is 90% ready, 10% remains," he noted. "This is far more than just figures." An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not a Weak Truce The president stressed that Ukraine seeks peace but not at "any cost". "What does our nation desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of our country." "Are we tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to capitulate? Anyone who thinks so is deeply wrong," he added. He expressed doubt about Russian aims, suggesting that should forces pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. That is how a lie translates," he remarked. European Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that European allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will establish solid commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after any agreement with Russia is reached. Cross-Border Attacks Reported Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes continued. A source from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire. In Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were affected and significant harm was reported to two energy facilities. Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack Concerning recent allegations of a drone strike aimed at a residence of Russian president, American and European officials 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 released a video claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the story. European Diplomat Calls Claims a "Distraction" The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "No one should believe baseless allegations from the invading force," she said. Other Developments North Korean Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "foreign land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian invasion in the region. Restrictions Reprieve: The US have reportedly given a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company manages the country's only refinery.