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In a New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was ninety percent complete. "This deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent is left," he noted. "This is much more than just numbers."

A Deal Needs Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Truce

The president emphasized that Ukraine seeks peace but not at "any possible cost". "What is it that our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is deeply mistaken," Zelenskyy continued.

He voiced doubt about Moscow's intentions, stating that should forces pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he commented.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-War Security

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will establish firm commitments towards protecting Ukraine after any peace deal with Russia is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of military strikes continued. A source from Ukraine's security service said that Ukraine's long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Officials said multiple apartment buildings were affected and considerable harm was reported to two energy facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Aerial Incident

Regarding recent claims of a UAV strike targeting a property of Russian leader, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report stated that US security officials concluded the reported incident "did not happen".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a footage purporting to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it showed a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative.

European Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the invading force," she said.

Other Developments

• DPRK Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent thousands of troops to support the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until late January. This entity manages Serbia's sole refinery.