President Zelensky Says Ukraine Was 10% Off from a Peace Deal, Yet Not at Any Cost

In a year-end address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent prepared. "The deal is 90% ready, ten percent is left," he noted. "And that is much more than just numbers."

An Agreement Requires Strong Guarantees, Not Weak Ceasefire

The president made clear that his country wants an end to the war but not at "any possible cost". "What does Ukraine desires? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation weary? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to give up? Any person who believes that is deeply mistaken," he continued.

He voiced doubt about Russian intentions, suggesting that should forces withdrew from the eastern region, the war would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and it will all be over. That is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards protecting the country after any agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

At the same time, accounts of hostile actions continued. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Officials confirmed multiple buildings were affected and considerable damage was reported to two energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Incident

Concerning previous allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russian president, US and European authorities agree that Ukrainian forces did not target the incident. A report stated that US national security officials concluded the alleged attack "did not happen".

In response, The Russian ministry of defense released a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and suggested it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the narrative.

European Diplomat Calls Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas described Moscow's assertions "an intentional distraction". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Other Updates

• DPRK Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to aid the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have according to a minister given a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company operates Serbia's sole oil refinery.