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As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace deal was 90% complete. "This peace agreement is 90% complete, 10% remains," he noted. "This is much more than simply figures."

An Agreement Requires Strong Assurances, Not Weak Ceasefire

The president made clear that Ukraine seeks peace but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What is it that Ukraine want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the destruction of our country."

"Is the nation weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are prepared to give up? Any person who believes that is deeply wrong," he added.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that should troops pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. That is how deception sounds," he commented.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-War Security

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will establish solid commitments towards ensuring the security of the country following a potential agreement with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, reports of military strikes continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, among them children. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant damage was caused to two power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Drone Incident

Concerning recent allegations of a UAV strike targeting a residence of Russia's leader, American and European authorities agree that Ukraine did not target the event. An article indicated that US national security agencies determined the reported incident "never occurred".

In response, Russia's defence ministry released a video purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in creating the story.

EU Diplomat Calls Claims a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept unfounded claims from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent a significant number of personnel to aid the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly given a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company manages the country's only oil refinery.