đź”— Share this article Leader Zelensky Says The Nation Is 10% Off from Peace, Yet Not at Any Price In a New Year's Eve address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential treaty was 90% ready. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he remarked. "And that is far more than just figures." A Deal Requires Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Ceasefire The president emphasized that his country seeks an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does our nation want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the end of our country." "Is the nation weary? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy added. He voiced skepticism about Russian intentions, suggesting that even if forces withdrew from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. That is how a lie sounds," he remarked. European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Security Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will establish solid commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following any agreement with Moscow is brokered. Reciprocal Attacks Continue Meanwhile, reports of military strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's SBU 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 aerial assault struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring several people, among them children. Officials said multiple buildings were damaged and significant harm was caused to a couple of power facilities. Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack Concerning previous allegations of a UAV strike aimed at a property of Russia's president, American and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report indicated that American national security agencies determined the reported incident "did not happen". In response, Russia's defence ministry published a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of seriousness in creating the story. European Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction" The EU's top diplomat described Russia's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept unfounded claims from the invading force," she said. Other Developments DPRK Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a New Year message. Reports indicate the country has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian military campaign in the region. Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity operates the country's sole refinery.