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

A Deal Needs Robust Guarantees, Not a Fragile Ceasefire

The president stressed that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but would not accept it at "any price". "What does our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Is the nation tired? Very. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Anyone who believes that is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy continued.

He voiced doubt about Moscow's intentions, stating that should troops withdrew from the Donbas region, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he commented.

European Allies to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will make solid commitments towards ensuring the security of the country following any agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

At the same time, accounts of military strikes persisted. An official from Ukraine's security service said that Ukrainian long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Local authorities said multiple buildings were damaged and considerable harm was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Incident

Concerning previous claims of a UAV strike targeting a residence of Russian president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. An article indicated that US national security officials concluded the alleged incident "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a video claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative.

EU Diplomat Labels Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's claims "an intentional diversion". "No one should accept baseless claims from the aggressor," she said.

Other Developments

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "alien territory" in a New Year address. Reports suggest North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to support Russia's invasion in the region.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister given a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until late January. This entity operates the country's only refinery.