Zelensky says deal to end conflict '10 percent' away

KYIV — Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday his country was "10 percent" away from a deal to end the conflict with Russia, but cautioned that the most important issues were unresolved.

In his New Year's Eve address, Zelensky said his country wanted an end to the conflict but not at "any cost".

Any signature "placed on weak agreements only fuel the war", he said. "My signature will be placed on a strong agreement."

Zelensky said weeks of US-led diplomacy, including his talks last week with US President Donald Trump in Florida, had produced a peace deal that was nearly ready.

"The peace agreement is 90 percent ready. Ten percent remains. And that is far more than just numbers,"Zelensky said in the address, posted on his Telegram account.

"Those are the 10 percent that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe," he added.

Zelensky's speech came just hours after US officials, including top envoy Steve Witkoff, held a call with Ukrainian and European security advisers on the next steps to end the nearly four-year conflict.

"We focused on how to move the discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of POTUS' (President of the United States') peace process, including strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms to help end the war and ensure it does not restart," Witkoff said on X on Wednesday.

A "prosperity package" for Ukraine was also discussed, he said. "Many additional details were discussed, and we will continue this important work and coordination in the New Year."

The Kremlin said this week that it would "toughen" its negotiating position on ending the conflict, after accusing Ukraine of launching dozens of drones at President Vladimir Putin's residence in the Novgorod region between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Moscow on Wednesday published footage of a drone it said Kyiv had sent toward the residence.

Deadly attack

Meanwhile, at least 24 people were killed and more than 50 others injured after three Ukrainian drones hit a cafe and hotel in the Kherson region on Wednesday night, local authorities said.

The attack occurred as civilians were gathering to celebrate the New Year, said Vladimir Saldo, head of the Kherson region.

"Many people were burned alive," Saldo said, noting that one of the drones carried an incendiary mixture, which triggered a massive fire at the scene. Firefighters were only able to fully extinguish the blaze by Thursday morning.

"There is no doubt that the attack was planned in advance, with drones deliberately targeting areas where civilians had gathered to celebrate New Year's Eve," the Russian Foreign Ministry said, calling the attack "a war crime".

Agencies - Xinhua