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As part of his year-end speech, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "This deal is 90 percent complete, 10% remains," he noted. "And that is far more than just figures."

A Deal Requires Strong Guarantees, Not a Weak Truce

Zelenskyy made clear that his country wants peace but would not accept it at "any price". "What does our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he said. "Our goal is a conclusion to the war but not the end of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Any person who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if forces pulled out from the eastern Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how a lie translates," he commented.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Security

Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will make solid commitments towards protecting the country after a potential peace deal with Moscow is reached.

Reciprocal Attacks Reported

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes continued. An official from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukrainian long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault hit residential blocks and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring several people, including children. Officials said four apartment buildings were affected and considerable damage was reported to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Concerning previous claims of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russian president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. A report stated that American security officials concluded the alleged incident "did not happen".

In response, Russia's defence ministry published a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative.

EU Diplomat Labels Claims a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas described Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should accept baseless allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Other Updates

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent a significant number of troops to aid the Russian invasion in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly given a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company operates the country's sole refinery.