Leader Zelenskyy Declares Ukraine Was Ten Percent Away from Peace, But Not at Any Cost
In a year-end speech, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "The peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% remains," he remarked. "This is far more than just figures."
An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not a Weak Ceasefire
The president stressed that his country seeks an end to the war but not at "any price". "What is it that our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the destruction of Ukraine."
"Are we tired? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.
He voiced skepticism about Russian intentions, suggesting that should forces pulled out from the Donbas region, the war would not necessarily end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. That is how deception sounds," he remarked.
EU Leaders to Plan Post-War Security
In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will establish firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after any agreement with Russia is reached.
Cross-Border Attacks Continue
Meanwhile, accounts of hostile actions persisted. An official from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukraine's long-range drones struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.
On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them children. Local authorities said four buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.
Disputed Claims Over Drone Attack
Concerning recent allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russian leader, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the incident. An article stated that US security agencies determined the reported incident "never occurred".
Reacting, Russia's defence ministry published a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.
EU Official Labels Allegations a "Distraction"
The EU's top diplomat called Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the invading force," she said.
Other Developments
- DPRK Role: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "alien territory" in a new year's message. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to aid Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
- Restrictions Extension: United States authorities have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until late January. This entity manages Serbia's sole oil refinery.
