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In a year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential treaty was 90% ready. "The deal is 90 percent ready, 10% is left," he remarked. "And that is far more than just figures."

An Agreement Needs Strong Guarantees, Not a Weak Ceasefire

The president made clear that his country desires peace but not at "any cost". "What does our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the war but not the end of Ukraine."

"Are we exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Any person who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's intentions, stating that even if forces withdrew from the eastern Donbas, the war would not cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-War Guarantees

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will establish solid pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following any peace deal with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Attacks Continue

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

In Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them children. Local authorities said four apartment buildings were affected and significant harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Incident

Concerning recent allegations of a drone strike targeting a property of Russian leader, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report indicated that US security agencies concluded the alleged incident "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry released a footage purporting to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

European Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's assertions "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should believe baseless claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Other Updates

• DPRK Involvement: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "alien territory" in a new year's message. Reports suggest the country has sent thousands of personnel to support the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly granted a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity operates Serbia's sole refinery.