🔗 Share this article Leader Zelensky Says The Nation Was 10% Away from a Peace Deal, But Not at Any Possible Cost In a year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible peace deal was ninety percent complete. "This peace agreement is 90 percent complete, ten percent remains," he remarked. "And that is far more than simply numbers." An Agreement Needs Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Truce Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine wants an end to the war but not at "any price". "What is it that our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine." "Are we weary? Very. Does this mean we are ready to capitulate? Any person who thinks so is profoundly wrong," he added. He voiced doubt about Moscow's aims, suggesting that should troops withdrew from the Donbas region, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he remarked. European Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Security Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will establish firm pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after any peace deal with Russia is reached. Cross-Border Strikes Continue At the same time, accounts of military strikes continued. An official from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire. In southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding several people, including minors. Officials said multiple buildings were damaged and considerable damage was reported to a couple of power facilities. Disputed Claims Over Drone Attack Regarding recent allegations of a drone strike aimed at a property of Russian president, American and European authorities agree that Ukraine was not behind the event. A report stated that American national security agencies determined the alleged incident "never occurred". Reacting, The Russian defence ministry released a footage purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in fabricating the narrative. EU Official Labels Claims a "Distraction" The EU's top diplomat called Russia's claims "an intentional distraction". "Nobody should believe baseless claims from the aggressor," she remarked. Other Developments North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "foreign land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent a significant number of troops to aid Russia's military campaign in the region. Restrictions Reprieve: The US have reportedly given a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until 23 January. The company operates the country's only refinery.