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As part of his New Year's Eve speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential treaty was 90% complete. "The peace agreement is 90% ready, 10% is left," he noted. "And that is much more than just numbers."

A Deal Requires Strong Assurances, Not Weak Ceasefire

Zelenskyy made clear that his country seeks peace but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Yes. No matter the price? No," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the war but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who believes that is profoundly mistaken," he added.

He expressed skepticism about Russian intentions, suggesting that should troops withdrew from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not cease. "Pull out from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Security

Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that European allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will establish solid commitments towards ensuring the security of the country after a potential peace deal with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of military actions persisted. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's long-range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze.

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

Disputed Claims Over Aerial Attack

Regarding recent allegations of a drone strike targeting a property of Russia's president, US and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. An article stated that American security agencies determined the reported attack "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry released a video claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the narrative.

European Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "foreign land" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent a significant number of personnel to support the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have according to a minister given a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company operates the country's only refinery.