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During his New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible treaty was ninety percent prepared. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he said. "This is much more than just figures."

An Agreement Requires Robust Assurances, Not a Weak Truce

The president emphasized that his country seeks peace but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What is it that our nation want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the war but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Any person who believes that is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's aims, suggesting that should troops pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how a lie translates," he commented.

European Allies to Plan Post-War Security

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will make firm pledges towards protecting the country after any agreement with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

At the same time, accounts of military actions continued. An official from Ukraine's security service said that Ukraine's long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring several people, among them minors. Local authorities said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant damage was reported to two power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Aerial Incident

Concerning previous claims of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russia's president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the event. An article stated that American national security officials concluded the alleged incident "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a footage claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian foreign ministry ridiculed the evidence as "laughable" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in fabricating the story.

European Official Labels Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the aggressor," she remarked.

Other Developments

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to support Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have according to a minister given a temporary exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. This entity manages Serbia's sole oil refinery.