🔗 Share this article President Zelenskyy Says The Nation Was 10% Away from a Peace Deal, But Not at Any Possible Price As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible treaty was ninety percent complete. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent is left," he noted. "And that is far more than simply numbers." A Deal Needs Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Truce The president stressed that his country desires an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "We want an end to the conflict but not the end of our country." "Are we exhausted? Very. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Any person who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," he continued. He voiced doubt about Russian aims, stating that even if troops pulled out from the eastern region, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how deception translates," he remarked. European Allies to Plan Post-War Guarantees In related news, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will make firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after any peace deal with Russia is brokered. Cross-Border Strikes Continue Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. An official from Ukraine's security service said that Ukraine's long-range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze. In Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, including minors. Local authorities said multiple buildings were affected and significant harm was caused to two energy facilities. Contested Claims Over Drone Incident Regarding previous allegations of a UAV attack targeting a residence of Russian leader, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report stated that US security officials determined the reported attack "never occurred". In response, Russia's ministry of defense released a video purporting to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian drone. A Ukrainian foreign ministry dismissed the evidence as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the story. European Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion" The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's assertions "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should accept baseless allegations from the invading force," she said. Additional Updates DPRK Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "foreign land" in a new year's message. Reports suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian military campaign in the region. Restrictions Extension: United States authorities have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company manages the country's sole oil refinery.