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During his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible treaty was ninety percent prepared. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is much more than simply figures."

An Agreement Requires Robust Assurances, Not a Weak Truce

The president stressed that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but would not accept it at "any price". "What is it that Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation weary? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to give up? Any person who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He voiced skepticism about Russian intentions, stating that should forces withdrew from the Donbas region, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

EU Allies to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners gathering in Paris on 6 January will establish firm pledges towards ensuring the security of the country after any peace deal with Russia is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Continue

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes continued. A source from Ukraine'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 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 considerable damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Regarding previous allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russian president, US and European officials agree that Ukraine was not behind the event. An article stated that US security officials determined the alleged incident "did not happen".

In response, The Russian ministry of defense published a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

European Diplomat Calls Claims a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's assertions "an intentional diversion". "No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "foreign land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's invasion in the region.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company operates the country's sole refinery.