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In a year-end speech, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential treaty was ninety percent ready. "This peace agreement is 90% ready, 10% remains," he remarked. "And that is much more than just numbers."

An Agreement Needs Strong Guarantees, Not Weak Truce

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine wants peace but not at "any price". "What is it that our nation want? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Are we tired? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Anyone who believes that is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

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

European Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners gathering in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards protecting the country after a potential agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Attacks Continue

At the same time, accounts of military strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's security service said that Ukrainian long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck residential blocks and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, including children. Local authorities said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and considerable damage was caused to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Incident

Concerning previous claims of a UAV strike aimed at a property of Russia's president, American and European officials agree that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. An article stated that US security agencies determined the reported attack "never occurred".

In response, Russia's defence ministry published a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the story.

European Diplomat Calls Claims a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept unfounded allegations from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• DPRK Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "alien territory" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to support the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: 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 operates Serbia's only oil refinery.