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As part of his year-end address, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "This deal is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he said. "This is far more than simply figures."

An Agreement Needs Robust Assurances, Not Fragile Truce

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine desires peace but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What is it that our nation want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who believes that is deeply mistaken," he continued.

He expressed doubt about Russian intentions, suggesting that even if troops pulled out from the Donbas region, the war would not cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will make solid commitments towards ensuring the security of the country after a potential peace deal with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Continue

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes continued. A source from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukraine's long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, including children. Local authorities said four apartment buildings were damaged and considerable harm was reported to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Attack

Concerning recent allegations of a drone strike aimed at a residence of Russian leader, US and European authorities agree that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. An article stated that American national security officials determined the alleged incident "did not happen".

In response, Russia's ministry of defense released a footage purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

European Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas described Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should accept unfounded allegations from the invading force," she said.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister given a short-term reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until late January. The company operates Serbia's sole oil refinery.