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In a New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "The deal is 90% ready, 10% is left," he remarked. "This is much more than simply figures."

An Agreement Needs Strong Guarantees, Not Weak Truce

The president emphasized that Ukraine seeks peace but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What does Ukraine desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Any person who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He voiced skepticism about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the Donbas region, the war would not cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how deception translates," he remarked.

EU Allies to Plan Post-War Security

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will establish solid pledges towards protecting Ukraine after a potential agreement with Russia is brokered.

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes continued. An official from Ukraine's security service reported that Ukraine's long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, injuring several people, among them children. Officials said four apartment buildings were affected and considerable harm was caused to two power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Aerial Incident

Concerning recent allegations of a UAV attack targeting a residence of Russian president, US and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. A report stated that US security officials concluded the alleged attack "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry published a footage purporting to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

European Diplomat Calls Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas described Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should accept unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Other Updates

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a new year's message. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to support Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity operates Serbia's only refinery.