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As part of his year-end message, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible peace deal was ninety percent complete. "This peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he remarked. "This is far more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Strong Guarantees, Not Weak Ceasefire

Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine desires an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What does Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "We want an end to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to give up? Anyone who believes that is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if troops pulled out from the Donbas region, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the Donbas, and it will all be over. That is how deception sounds," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will make firm pledges towards protecting Ukraine following any agreement with Moscow is reached.

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

At the same time, accounts of military strikes continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them children. Officials confirmed multiple buildings were damaged and considerable damage was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Regarding previous allegations of a UAV attack targeting a property of Russia's president, American and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. A report stated that American security agencies determined the alleged attack "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry published a video purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

EU Diplomat Calls Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "No one should believe unfounded allegations from the invading force," she said.

Other Updates

• DPRK Involvement: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "alien territory" in a new year's address. Reports suggest the country has sent a significant number of troops to support Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. The company manages the country's sole oil refinery.