President Zelensky Says The Nation Was 10% Off from Peace, Yet Not at Any Possible Cost

As part of his New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent prepared. "The deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is much more than just numbers."

An Agreement Requires Strong Guarantees, Not a Weak Ceasefire

The president made clear that his country desires peace but not at "any possible cost". "What does Ukraine want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Are we tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to give up? Anyone who believes that is profoundly wrong," he added.

He voiced skepticism about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Discuss Post-War Guarantees

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will make solid pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following a potential agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Attacks Continue

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

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them children. Officials confirmed four buildings were damaged and considerable harm was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Regarding previous allegations of a drone attack targeting a residence of Russian leader, American and European authorities agree that Ukraine was not behind the event. An article stated that US national security agencies concluded the alleged incident "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense published a footage claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

EU Official Calls Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should believe baseless allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Other Developments

• North Korean Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien land" in a New Year message. Reports indicate North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to aid Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have reportedly given a temporary exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until late January. The company operates Serbia's sole refinery.