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During his New Year's Eve speech, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was ninety percent complete. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent is left," he noted. "This is much more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Robust Guarantees, Not a Weak Ceasefire

Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine wants an end to the war but would not accept it at "any cost". "What does our nation want? Peace? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation weary? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who believes that is deeply wrong," he added.

He voiced skepticism about Moscow's intentions, stating that even if troops withdrew from the eastern region, the war would not end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how a lie translates," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will establish firm commitments towards ensuring the security of the country after any agreement with Russia is brokered.

Reciprocal Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, reports of military strikes continued. An official from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze.

In southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them children. Local authorities said four buildings were affected and considerable harm was caused to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Drone Incident

Concerning previous claims of a drone attack targeting a property of Russian president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target the incident. An article indicated that American security officials determined the alleged attack "did not happen".

In response, The Russian defence ministry released a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story.

EU Diplomat Labels Allegations a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's assertions "an intentional distraction". "Nobody should accept baseless claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Other Developments

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops operating in an "alien territory" in a New Year address. Reports indicate the country has sent thousands of personnel to aid Russia's invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have according to a minister granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's only oil refinery.