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In a New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was ninety percent prepared. "The peace agreement is 90 percent ready, 10% is left," he said. "This is far more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Strong Guarantees, Not a Weak Truce

The president stressed that his country seeks an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What is it that our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Is the nation weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are ready to capitulate? Anyone who believes that is deeply wrong," he added.

He voiced skepticism about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the eastern Donbas, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-War Security

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will establish firm pledges towards ensuring the security of the country following a potential agreement with Moscow is reached.

Cross-Border Strikes Continue

At the same time, accounts of military strikes continued. An official from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple buildings were affected and significant damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Attack

Concerning previous claims of a drone attack aimed at a residence of Russia's leader, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. A report indicated that US national security officials concluded the alleged incident "never occurred".

In response, The Russian ministry of defense published a footage purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian foreign ministry ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

EU Official Labels Allegations a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas described Russia's claims "an intentional distraction". "No one should believe baseless allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Other Updates

• North Korean Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops operating in an "foreign land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have according to a minister granted a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. This entity manages Serbia's sole oil refinery.