Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a peace agreement to end the war with Russia is 90% ready, in a New Year address that largely focused on resistance to Moscow's full-scale invasion.
Zelensky said the remaining 10% of the agreement to end nearly four years of conflict would determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe.
In his own New Year speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his troops that we believe in you and our victory.
Earlier on Wednesday, Moscow also released what it said was evidence of Ukraine using drones to target Putin's private home on Lake Valdai in north-west Russia, allegations Kyiv has strenuously denied.
It included a map allegedly showing that the drones were launched from the Sumy and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine and a video of a downed drone lying in snowy woodland. A serviceman standing next to the wreckage claims it is a Ukrainian Chaklun drone.
The BBC hasn't been able to verify the footage, and it is not possible to locate where it was shot.
Russia would review its position on the ongoing peace negotiations as a result of the alleged incident, the Kremlin said.
However, Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, on Wednesday described the Russian claims as a deliberate distraction and an attempt to derail the peace process.
In his 20-minute address to the nation, Zelensky stated that Ukraine did not want peace at any cost, emphasizing, we want the end of the war – not the end of Ukraine.
He mentioned that a Ukrainian withdrawal from the eastern Donbas region means everything will be over, referring to Russia's demand for full control of this industrial area.
Currently, Russia controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and approximately 99% of the neighboring Luhansk region, which together comprise Donbas.
Zelensky thanked leaders that supported Ukraine but insisted that intentions must become security guarantees, and therefore - be ratified. Following discussions with U.S. officials, Zelensky noted that Washington had offered security guarantees for 15 years, although a timeline for implementation is still unclear.
Significantly, Zelensky stated, Signatures under weak agreements only fuel war and warned that the international community must take definitive action against Russia's aggression.
In stark contrast, Putin’s address was more succinct, highlighting support for those involved in Russia’s military operations while framing the conflict in Ukraine as a special military operation.
On the geopolitical front, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his support for Russia in his New Year remarks, citing the strong alliance between their nations.
Zelensky has indicated a desire for peace negotiations to resume and accelerate with U.S. and European officials involved. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that upcoming meetings in Paris on January 6 should lead to concrete commitments to ensure Ukraine's security and a just peace in Europe.
Despite discussions with U.S. national security advisers about potential resolutions to the conflict, the necessity of Russian cooperation remains an unresolved hurdle, exacerbated by tensions from the recent drone incident.
