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

A Deal Requires Robust Guarantees, Not Fragile Ceasefire

The president stressed that his country wants peace but would not accept it at "any cost". "What is it that our nation want? Peace? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to give up? Anyone who believes that is deeply mistaken," he continued.

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

European Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

In related news, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will establish solid pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following a potential agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Attacks Reported

At the same time, reports of military strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze.

In southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to two power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Aerial Attack

Concerning recent allegations of a drone attack targeting a residence of Russia's president, American and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces did not target the incident. A report stated that American security officials determined the alleged attack "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a footage claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the story.

EU Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should accept unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she remarked.

Other Developments

• DPRK Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops operating in an "foreign land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent thousands of troops to support the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have reportedly granted a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until late January. This entity operates the country's only refinery.