🔗 Share this article President Zelenskyy States The Nation Was 10% Off from a Peace Deal, Yet Not at Any Possible Price In a year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible peace deal was 90% complete. "The peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% is left," he noted. "This is far more than simply numbers." A Deal Requires Strong Guarantees, Not a Weak Truce The president made clear that his country wants an end to the war but would not accept it at "any cost". "What is it that our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "We want an end to the war but not the end of our country." "Is the nation tired? Very. Does this mean we are ready to capitulate? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly wrong," he continued. He expressed skepticism about Russian intentions, stating that should forces withdrew from the eastern Donbas, the war would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how deception translates," he commented. EU Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Security Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will establish solid pledges towards protecting the country following a potential agreement with Russia is reached. Cross-Border Strikes Continue Meanwhile, accounts of hostile actions persisted. A source 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 large blaze. On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring several people, including minors. Officials said four apartment buildings were affected and significant harm was reported to two energy facilities. Contested Claims Over Drone Attack Concerning previous claims of a UAV strike aimed at a residence of Russian leader, American and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. An article indicated that American national security agencies concluded the reported incident "did not happen". Reacting, The Russian defence ministry released a video claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story. EU Diplomat Labels Claims a "Distraction" The EU's top diplomat called Russia's claims "an intentional diversion". "No one should believe unfounded allegations from the invading force," she said. Other Developments DPRK Role: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien land" in a New Year message. Reports indicate the country has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian military campaign in Ukraine. Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly granted a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity operates Serbia's only refinery.