Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was only ten percent away from a peace deal but made it clear that ending the war could not come at the cost of the country’s survival. In his New Year’s Eve address, he said a framework for peace was largely in place, but the remaining issues were not symbolic. He stressed that any agreement must include firm security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
Zelenskyy rejected Russian demands for full control of the eastern Donbas region, warning that Moscow would not stop there. He said promises from Russia to end the war after territorial concessions were deceptive and should not be trusted. According to him, Ukraine wants peace but will not accept a weak deal that merely delays another round of conflict.
While diplomatic efforts continue, fighting on the ground has not slowed. Ukrainian long range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a major fire. In Ukraine, Russian drone attacks damaged apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring civilians including children.
Meanwhile, Russia accused Ukraine of attempting a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, a claim firmly denied by Kyiv and dismissed by US and European intelligence officials. European leaders are expected to discuss long term security commitments to Ukraine at a meeting in Paris later this month.
