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As part of his New Year's Eve address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent complete. "The deal is 90 percent complete, 10% is left," he remarked. "And that is much more than simply figures."

An Agreement Needs Robust Guarantees, Not a Weak Truce

Zelenskyy made clear that his country wants peace but would not accept it at "any price". "What is it that our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Any person who thinks so is deeply wrong," he continued.

He voiced skepticism about Moscow's intentions, stating that should troops pulled out from the eastern Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and it will all be over. That is how deception translates," he remarked.

EU Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Security

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will establish firm commitments towards protecting Ukraine following a potential peace deal with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, reports of military strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's security service reported that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding six people, including minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were affected and considerable damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Drone Incident

Regarding previous claims of a drone attack aimed at a property of Russia's president, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. A report indicated that American security agencies concluded the reported attack "never occurred".

In response, Russia's ministry of defense published a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative.

EU Official Labels Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas described Moscow's assertions "an intentional distraction". "No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a new year's message. Reports indicate the country has sent a significant number of troops to aid the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity manages Serbia's only oil refinery.