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During his New Year's Eve address, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "This deal is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he remarked. "And that is much more than just numbers."

An Agreement Needs Robust Guarantees, Not Weak Truce

The president made clear that Ukraine desires peace but would not accept it at "any price". "What does Ukraine desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Any person who believes that is deeply mistaken," he added.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that even if troops pulled out from the Donbas region, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. That is how deception sounds," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-War Security

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will establish solid pledges towards protecting Ukraine after any agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, reports of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukraine's long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

In southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding several people, among them children. Local authorities confirmed four apartment buildings were affected and significant harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Attack

Regarding recent allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russia's president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the event. An article indicated that American security agencies determined the reported incident "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's ministry of defense published a video purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

European Diplomat Labels Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas described Moscow's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should believe unfounded claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "alien land" in a New Year message. Reports suggest North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to aid Russia's military campaign in the region.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have according to a minister granted a short-term reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company operates the country's only refinery.