🔗 Share this article Leader Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Is Ten Percent Away from Peace, Yet Not at Any Cost As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent complete. "This peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% is left," he said. "This is far more than just numbers." A Deal Requires Robust Assurances, Not a Weak Truce Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but not at "any possible cost". "What does our nation desires? Peace? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the destruction of our country." "Are we weary? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Any person who thinks so is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy added. He expressed skepticism about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that even if forces pulled out from the Donbas region, the war would not cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he remarked. EU Allies to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will establish firm commitments towards protecting Ukraine following any agreement with Russia is brokered. Cross-Border Attacks Reported Meanwhile, reports of military actions continued. A source from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukrainian long-range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire. On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them children. Officials said four apartment buildings were damaged and significant damage was caused to two power facilities. Disputed Claims Over Drone Attack Concerning recent allegations of a drone attack targeting a residence of Russian president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report indicated that American national security officials determined the reported attack "never occurred". In response, Russia's defence ministry released a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in creating the story. EU Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction" The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's assertions "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should believe baseless allegations from the aggressor," she said. Other Updates DPRK Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "foreign land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Sanctions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister granted a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until 23 January. This entity operates the country's only oil refinery.