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During his year-end message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace agreement was 90% ready. "The deal is 90 percent complete, 10% remains," he said. "And that is much more than just figures."

An Agreement Needs Robust Assurances, Not a Fragile Ceasefire

Zelenskyy stressed that his country wants peace but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does our nation want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," he added.

He expressed doubt about Russian aims, suggesting that should troops withdrew from the eastern region, the conflict would not end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how deception translates," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-War Guarantees

In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will make solid pledges towards protecting Ukraine following any agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Attacks Continue

At the same time, reports of military strikes continued. An official from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring several people, among them children. Officials said multiple buildings were damaged and significant damage was reported to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Drone Incident

Regarding recent claims of a UAV strike targeting a residence of Russia's leader, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. An article indicated that US national security officials determined the reported incident "never occurred".

In response, The Russian ministry of defense published a video claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in fabricating the narrative.

European Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should believe unfounded claims from the invading force," she said.

Additional Developments

• North Korean Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops serving in an "foreign land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister given a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company operates the country's sole oil refinery.