🔗 Share this article Leader Zelensky States Ukraine Was 10% Off from Peace, Yet Not at Any Price During his year-end address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was ninety percent ready. "This deal is 90% ready, 10% remains," he noted. "And that is far more than simply numbers." A Deal Requires Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Truce The president stressed that Ukraine desires peace but not at "any possible price". "What does our nation desires? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No," he said. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the destruction of Ukraine." "Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does this mean we are prepared to capitulate? Anyone who believes that is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy added. He expressed doubt about Russian intentions, suggesting that should troops withdrew from the eastern region, the war would not cease. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how deception sounds," he remarked. EU Allies to Discuss Post-War Guarantees In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European allies and partners gathering in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards ensuring the security of the country following a potential agreement with Russia is reached. Cross-Border Attacks Continue Meanwhile, accounts of hostile actions continued. A source from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukraine's long-range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze. On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding several people, among them children. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were affected and significant damage was reported to a couple of power facilities. Contested Allegations Over Drone Incident Concerning recent allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russian president, US and European authorities agree that Ukraine did not target the incident. An article indicated that US security officials determined the reported incident "did not happen". Reacting, The Russian defence ministry published a video claiming to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative. European Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion" The EU's top diplomat called Russia's claims "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should believe unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she said. Additional Developments DPRK Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent a significant number of personnel to aid Russia's invasion in Ukraine. Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly given a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's sole oil refinery.