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During his year-end message, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace deal was 90% prepared. "This peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% remains," he remarked. "This is much more than simply figures."

A Deal Requires Robust Guarantees, Not a Weak Truce

The president made clear that Ukraine wants peace but would not accept it at "any price". "What does Ukraine want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "We want an end to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Is the nation exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's aims, stating that even if forces withdrew from the eastern Donbas, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-War Security

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm pledges towards protecting Ukraine following a potential peace deal with Moscow is reached.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, reports of military strikes continued. An official from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukraine's long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring several people, among them children. Officials said multiple apartment buildings were affected and considerable harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Attack

Concerning previous allegations of a drone attack aimed at a property of Russia's president, US and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. A report stated that US security agencies concluded the reported incident "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a footage claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the story.

European Diplomat Calls Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas called Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should believe baseless allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "alien land" in a New Year address. Reports indicate North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian invasion in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have according to a minister given a short-term reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company operates Serbia's only refinery.