🔗 Share this article President Zelenskyy Declares Ukraine Was Ten Percent Off from Peace, Yet Not at Any Cost During his year-end address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was 90% ready. "This deal is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he said. "This is much more than simply figures." An Agreement Needs Strong Assurances, Not Weak Truce Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine desires an end to the war but not at "any cost". "What is it that Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the destruction of Ukraine." "Are we exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Any person who thinks so is deeply wrong," he added. He voiced skepticism about Russian aims, suggesting that should troops pulled out from the eastern region, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he commented. European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Security Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron stated that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will make solid pledges towards protecting Ukraine after any peace deal with Russia is reached. Reciprocal Strikes Reported At the same time, accounts of military strikes continued. An official from Ukraine's security service said that Ukraine's long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze. In Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, including minors. Officials said four apartment buildings were damaged and considerable harm was caused to a couple of power facilities. Disputed Allegations Over Drone Incident Concerning previous claims of a drone attack aimed at a property of Russian president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. A report stated that US national security officials concluded the alleged incident "did not happen". In response, The Russian ministry of defense published a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and stated it showed a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative. European Official Calls Claims a "Diversion" The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's claims "an intentional distraction". "No one should believe unfounded claims from the aggressor," she remarked. Other Updates North Korean Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops operating in an "alien land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian military campaign in Ukraine. Sanctions Extension: The US have reportedly given a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's only refinery.