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As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible peace agreement was 90% prepared. "The peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% is left," he said. "And that is much more than simply figures."

An Agreement Needs Strong Guarantees, Not Fragile Truce

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine wants peace but not at "any price". "What is it that Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the destruction of our country."

"Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy continued.

He voiced doubt about Russian intentions, suggesting that should troops pulled out from the eastern region, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will establish firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after a potential peace deal with Russia is brokered.

Reciprocal Attacks Reported

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes continued. A source from Kyiv's security service said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them children. Local authorities said four buildings were damaged and considerable harm was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Incident

Concerning recent allegations of a UAV strike targeting a property of Russian president, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. An article indicated that American national security officials determined the reported incident "did not happen".

In response, The Russian ministry of defense published a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

EU Official Labels Claims a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's claims "a deliberate distraction". "No one should believe unfounded claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien territory" in a new year's message. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until 23 January. The company operates the country's sole oil refinery.