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During his New Year's Eve address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace agreement was 90% ready. "This peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he remarked. "This is much more than just figures."

A Deal Requires Strong Assurances, Not Weak Truce

The president stressed that his country wants an end to the war but not at "any possible cost". "What does our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Are we weary? Very. Does this mean we are ready to give up? Anyone who believes that is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed skepticism about Russian aims, stating that even if forces withdrew from the eastern region, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception translates," he remarked.

European Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees

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

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of military actions continued. An official from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Local authorities said four apartment buildings were affected and significant damage was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Aerial Attack

Concerning recent allegations of a drone attack targeting a residence of Russia's leader, US and European authorities agree that Ukraine was not behind the incident. An article stated that American security agencies concluded the reported attack "did not happen".

In response, Russia's ministry of defense published a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it showed a lack of credibility in creating the story.

EU Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's assertions "an intentional distraction". "Nobody should accept unfounded allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• DPRK Involvement: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "foreign land" in a new year's message. Reports suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to aid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. The company operates the country's only refinery.