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During his New Year's Eve speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "The deal is 90 percent complete, 10% remains," he said. "This is far more than just figures."

An Agreement Needs Strong Assurances, Not Fragile Ceasefire

The president stressed that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but not at "any possible price". "What does our nation want? An end to hostilities? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Is the nation tired? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to give up? Any person who thinks so is deeply wrong," he added.

He expressed skepticism about Russian intentions, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the Donbas region, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will make solid commitments towards protecting Ukraine following any agreement with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

At the same time, accounts of military strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's security service said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, including children. Local authorities confirmed four buildings were damaged and considerable damage was caused to a couple of energy facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Regarding recent claims of a UAV attack targeting a property of Russia's president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. An article stated that American national security officials concluded the reported incident "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a video purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in creating the narrative.

European Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should accept baseless claims from the invading force," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• North Korean Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a new year's message. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to aid Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. This entity manages the country's sole oil refinery.