🔗 Share this article Leader Zelensky Says Ukraine Was 10% Off from Peace, But Not at Any Possible Price In a New Year's Eve message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent complete. "This deal is 90% ready, 10% is left," he noted. "This is much more than simply figures." A Deal Needs Strong Guarantees, Not Weak Ceasefire Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine seeks peace but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does Ukraine want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he declared. "We want an end to the war but not the end of our country." "Is the nation exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who thinks so is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy added. He voiced skepticism about Russian intentions, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the Donbas region, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. That is how a lie sounds," he remarked. EU Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners gathering in Paris on 6 January will establish solid pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after any agreement with Moscow is brokered. Reciprocal Attacks Continue At the same time, reports of military strikes persisted. A source from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze. On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, among them children. Officials confirmed multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities. Disputed Allegations Over Drone Incident Regarding recent allegations of a drone attack targeting a property of Russia's president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target the incident. A report stated that US national security agencies concluded the alleged incident "did not happen". In response, The Russian defence ministry released a video purporting to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the evidence as "laughable" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story. European Diplomat Labels Allegations a "Diversion" Kaja Kallas described Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the invading force," she said. Additional Developments North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "foreign land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to aid Russia's invasion in Ukraine. Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly given a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's only refinery.