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In a New Year's Eve message, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was 90% complete. "The deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is far more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Ceasefire

The president emphasized that Ukraine desires peace but would not accept it at "any price". "What is it that Ukraine want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "We want an end to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation weary? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to give up? Anyone who believes that is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He voiced skepticism about Russian aims, stating that should troops pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie translates," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-War Guarantees

In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners gathering in Paris on 6 January will make firm pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following any peace deal with Moscow is reached.

Cross-Border Strikes Continue

At the same time, accounts of military strikes persisted. An official from Ukraine's security service reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck residential blocks and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Local authorities said four apartment buildings were affected and considerable damage was caused to two energy facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Drone Attack

Concerning recent allegations of a UAV strike targeting a residence of Russian leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. A report stated that US national security officials concluded the alleged incident "did not happen".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a footage purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the evidence as "laughable" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in fabricating the story.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas described Russia's claims "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should accept unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Additional Updates

• DPRK Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "alien territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent thousands of personnel to aid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. This entity operates Serbia's sole oil refinery.