Zelenskyy: Ukraine '10% Away' From Peace Deal, Demands Strong Guarantees

• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated Ukraine is "10 per cent" away from a peace deal with Russia, but the remaining issues are critical for its fate.
• Zelenskyy emphasized that while Ukraine desires peace, it will not accept it "at any cost" or through concessions that compromise its sovereignty or security.
• He stressed the need for strong security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression and firmly rejected any notion of capitulation despite war exhaustion.
• The remarks come amid intensified US-led diplomatic efforts, with deep divisions persisting, particularly over Russia's occupation of 20% of Ukrainian territory.
• Russian President Putin, in his New Year address, urged belief in victory, while the Kremlin vowed to "toughen" its stance after alleged drone attacks.

Why It Matters: Zelenskyy says Ukraine is close to a peace deal but insists on strong security guarantees and no territorial concessions.