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In a year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible treaty was ninety percent prepared. "This peace agreement is 90% complete, ten percent remains," he noted. "And that is much more than just numbers."

A Deal Requires Strong Assurances, Not Weak Ceasefire

The president made clear that his country seeks peace but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What is it that our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict 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 profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He voiced skepticism about Russian intentions, suggesting that should forces pulled out from the Donbas region, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how deception sounds," he commented.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm pledges towards protecting Ukraine after a potential agreement with Moscow is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile actions continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring several people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed four apartment buildings were damaged and significant damage was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Drone Attack

Regarding recent claims of a UAV strike targeting a property of Russian leader, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target 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 footage purporting to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

EU Official Labels Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "No one should believe baseless claims from the invading force," she said.

Other Updates

• DPRK Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "alien land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support the Russian invasion in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly given a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity manages the country's sole oil refinery.