Leader Zelenskyy Says The Nation Is Ten Percent Off from a Peace Deal, Yet Not at Any Price
As part of his year-end message, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential treaty was 90% prepared. "The peace agreement is 90% complete, 10% remains," he remarked. "This is far more than simply numbers."
An Agreement Requires Strong Guarantees, Not Fragile Truce
The president stressed that Ukraine desires peace but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the end of Ukraine."
"Is the nation exhausted? Extremely. Does this mean we are ready to capitulate? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.
He expressed skepticism about Russian aims, stating that should troops pulled out from the Donbas region, the conflict would not end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.
European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Security
Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will establish firm commitments towards protecting Ukraine following any peace deal with Moscow is reached.
Cross-Border Strikes Reported
Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukraine's long-range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.
On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them children. Local authorities said multiple buildings were damaged and considerable damage was reported to two energy facilities.
Contested Allegations Over Drone Incident
Regarding previous allegations of a drone attack aimed at a property of Russian president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. A report stated that US national security agencies determined the reported incident "never occurred".
In response, Russia's ministry of defense published a video claiming to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.
European Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Diversion"
Kaja Kallas described Moscow's claims "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should believe unfounded allegations from the invading force," she said.
Additional Updates
- DPRK Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a new year's message. Reports indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to support Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
- Sanctions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's only refinery.