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In a year-end address, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "This peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% remains," he noted. "This is much more than just figures."

An Agreement Requires Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Ceasefire

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine wants an end to the war but not at "any cost". "What is it that Ukraine want? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he declared. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are ready to give up? Any person who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," he added.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's aims, stating that even if forces withdrew from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how deception translates," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-War Security

In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will make firm pledges towards ensuring the security of the country after any agreement with Moscow is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

At the same time, accounts of hostile actions continued. An official from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, including children. Officials confirmed four apartment buildings were affected and significant damage was caused to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Aerial Incident

Regarding recent allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a residence of Russian president, American and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report stated that American national security agencies concluded the reported incident "did not happen".

Reacting, Russia's ministry of defense released a video purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and suggested it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the narrative.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas called Russia's assertions "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should accept baseless claims from the aggressor," she said.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to aid Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until 23 January. The company operates Serbia's sole refinery.