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As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "The deal is 90% ready, 10% remains," he remarked. "And that is far more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not Weak Truce

Zelenskyy emphasized that his country seeks an end to the war but not at "any possible cost". "What does our nation desires? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No," he declared. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the end of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed skepticism about Russian intentions, stating that even if forces withdrew from the eastern region, the war would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-War Guarantees

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

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

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

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding several people, including children. Officials confirmed multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Drone Incident

Concerning previous claims of a UAV attack targeting a property of Russian leader, American and European authorities agree that Ukraine did not target the incident. An article indicated that US national security officials determined the reported attack "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry published a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative.

EU Diplomat Labels Allegations a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas described Moscow's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should believe baseless allegations from the invading force," she said.

Other Developments

• North Korean 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 Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister given a temporary exemption from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity manages the country's sole refinery.