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In a New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible peace deal was ninety percent prepared. "This deal is 90% ready, 10% is left," he said. "And that is far more than just numbers."

A Deal Requires Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Truce

Zelenskyy made clear that his country desires peace but would not accept it at "any price". "What is it that Ukraine want? An end to hostilities? Yes. At any cost? No," he said. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Any person who believes that is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed skepticism about Russian aims, stating that should troops withdrew from the Donbas region, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after a potential agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile actions continued. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, including minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple apartment buildings were affected and significant harm was reported to two power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Drone Incident

Regarding recent claims of a drone strike aimed at a property of Russian leader, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. An article indicated that US national security officials concluded the reported incident "never occurred".

In response, The Russian ministry of defense released a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian foreign ministry ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

EU Official Calls Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's claims "an intentional distraction". "Nobody should accept baseless claims from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid the Russian invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a short-term exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company operates Serbia's only refinery.