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During his year-end address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was ninety percent ready. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, 10% remains," he noted. "And that is far more than simply figures."

An Agreement Needs Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Truce

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

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does this mean we are ready to give up? Any person who thinks so is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He voiced doubt about Moscow's aims, stating that even if forces pulled out from the Donbas region, the conflict would not end. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he commented.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will make firm pledges towards ensuring the security of the country after a potential peace deal with Russia is reached.

Reciprocal Attacks Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile actions continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukraine's long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring several people, among them minors. Local authorities said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and considerable damage was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Drone Incident

Regarding recent allegations of a drone strike targeting a property of Russia's president, US and European officials agree that Ukraine did not target the incident. A report indicated that US national security agencies concluded the alleged attack "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a video claiming to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the evidence as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the story.

European Diplomat Labels Claims a "Diversion"

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

Additional Developments

• DPRK Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent a significant number of troops to support Russia's invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister granted a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until 23 January. This entity operates Serbia's sole oil refinery.