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As part of his New Year's Eve speech, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was 90% ready. "The deal is 90 percent ready, 10% is left," he said. "And that is far more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Requires Strong Guarantees, Not Fragile Truce

The president emphasized that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but would not accept it at "any price". "What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He voiced skepticism about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that should troops pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he commented.

EU Allies to Discuss Post-War Guarantees

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will make solid commitments towards ensuring the security of the country following a potential peace deal with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, reports of hostile actions continued. A source from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, injuring several people, among them children. Officials confirmed multiple buildings were affected and significant harm was reported to two energy facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Drone Attack

Regarding previous claims of a UAV strike targeting a property of Russia's leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the event. A report stated that US national security agencies concluded the reported incident "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense published a footage claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. A Ukrainian foreign ministry ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the narrative.

EU Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

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

Additional Updates

• North Korean Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "foreign land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to aid Russia's military campaign in the region.
• Sanctions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister granted a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. This entity manages the country's only refinery.