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As part of his year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a potential peace agreement was 90% ready. "The deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent remains," he remarked. "And that is far more than just numbers."

A Deal Needs Robust Assurances, Not a Weak Truce

The president emphasized that his country desires an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What is it that our nation desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of our country."

"Is the nation weary? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Any person who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's aims, stating that should forces pulled out from the eastern region, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how a lie sounds," he commented.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will establish solid pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following a potential peace deal with Russia is reached.

Reciprocal Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of military actions continued. An official from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire.

In southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed four apartment buildings were affected and significant damage was caused to two energy facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Aerial Incident

Concerning recent allegations of a UAV strike aimed at a property of Russian president, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. A report stated that US security agencies concluded the reported incident "never occurred".

In response, The Russian ministry of defense released a video purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the narrative.

EU Diplomat Labels Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept baseless claims from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• DPRK Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year message. Reports suggest the country has sent thousands of personnel to support the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Extension: United States authorities have according to a minister given a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until 23 January. This entity operates Serbia's sole oil refinery.