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In a New Year's Eve speech, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was 90% ready. "This deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent remains," he noted. "This is much more than simply numbers."

A Deal Needs Robust Assurances, Not a Weak Ceasefire

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine wants an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What does Ukraine desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of our country."

"Is the nation exhausted? Extremely. Does this mean we are prepared to give up? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," he continued.

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

EU Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will establish solid pledges towards protecting the country after a potential agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, reports of military strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring several people, including minors. Officials confirmed multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Drone Attack

Concerning recent claims of a UAV attack targeting a property of Russian president, US and European authorities agree that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. An article indicated that American security agencies concluded the reported incident "never occurred".

In response, Russia's ministry of defense released a footage purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the story.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's claims "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should believe unfounded claims from the invading force," she said.

Other Developments

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to aid the Russian invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company operates the country's sole oil refinery.