President Zelenskyy Declares The Nation Is Ten Percent Off from a Peace Deal, Yet Not at Any Possible Cost

During his year-end address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible treaty was 90% prepared. "The deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent remains," he said. "This is much more than simply figures."

An Agreement Requires Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Truce

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but not at "any price". "What is it that our nation want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he said. "We want an end to the war but not the end of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Any person who believes that is profoundly mistaken," he added.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the eastern region, the conflict would not end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will establish firm commitments towards protecting Ukraine after any agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, including minors. Officials said four apartment buildings were affected and significant harm was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Concerning recent claims of a UAV attack targeting a residence of Russian president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the incident. A report stated that US national security agencies determined the reported incident "did not happen".

In response, Russia's defence ministry released a video purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in fabricating the story.

European Diplomat Labels Claims a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should believe unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• North Korean Involvement: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to aid the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until 23 January. The company operates the country's sole oil refinery.