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As part of his New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential treaty was 90% complete. "This deal is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he noted. "This is much more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Truce

Zelenskyy made clear that his country wants an end to the war but not at "any possible cost". "What does our nation desires? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No," he declared. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Are we weary? Very. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Anyone who believes that is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's aims, stating that should troops withdrew from the eastern Donbas, the conflict would not cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-War Guarantees

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will make solid pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after any peace deal with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of military actions persisted. A source from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukraine's long-range drones struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Officials said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and considerable harm was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Drone Attack

Regarding previous claims of a drone strike targeting a residence of Russian president, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. A report indicated that US security officials determined the alleged incident "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's ministry of defense released a footage purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

European Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas described Russia's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "No one should believe unfounded allegations from the invading force," she said.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "alien territory" in a new year's message. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia's invasion in the region.
• Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. This entity operates the country's sole refinery.