🔗 Share this article President Zelenskyy States Ukraine Was 10% Away from a Peace Deal, Yet Not at Any Price During his New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was ninety percent complete. "The deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent remains," he said. "And that is much more than simply figures." A Deal Needs Strong Assurances, Not Weak Ceasefire Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine seeks peace but would not accept it at "any price". "What does our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he said. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the end of our country." "Is the nation exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Any person who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued. He expressed doubt about Moscow's aims, stating that should forces withdrew from the eastern region, the war would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how deception translates," he remarked. EU Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will make solid commitments towards protecting the country following any agreement with Russia is brokered. Reciprocal Attacks Continue Meanwhile, reports of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large blaze. In southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were affected and considerable harm was caused to two energy facilities. Contested Allegations Over Drone Attack Regarding recent claims of a drone strike aimed at a property of Russian leader, American and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report stated that US national security officials determined the reported attack "did not happen". In response, The Russian defence ministry released a footage claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the narrative. European Diplomat Labels Claims a "Distraction" The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's claims "an intentional diversion". "No one should believe baseless claims from the aggressor," she remarked. Other Developments North Korean Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "foreign land" in a new year's message. Reports suggest North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to aid Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company operates the country's sole refinery.