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As part of his New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential treaty was 90% complete. "This deal is 90% complete, ten percent remains," he said. "And that is far more than just numbers."

An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not Fragile Truce

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine desires an end to the war but not at "any possible cost". "What does our nation want? Peace? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Are we weary? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Any person who believes that is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He voiced doubt about Russian aims, stating that should forces pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Security

Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will make solid commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following any peace deal with Russia is brokered.

Cross-Border Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of military strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's security service reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit residential blocks and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring several people, including minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant harm was caused to two energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Regarding recent allegations of a UAV strike aimed at a residence of Russia's leader, US and European authorities agree that Ukraine did not target the incident. A report stated that American security agencies determined the alleged incident "did not happen".

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

EU Official Calls Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas described Moscow's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should believe baseless claims from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• 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 indicate the country has sent thousands of personnel to support the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister granted a short-term reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity manages Serbia's only oil refinery.