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During his New Year's Eve address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible treaty was ninety percent prepared. "This deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent is left," he noted. "And that is much more than just numbers."

A Deal Requires Robust Guarantees, Not a Fragile Ceasefire

The president made clear that his country seeks peace but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What is it that our nation want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to capitulate? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed skepticism about Russian aims, suggesting that should troops pulled out from the eastern region, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and it will all be over. That is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

EU Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will make firm pledges towards ensuring the security of the country following a potential peace deal with Russia is brokered.

Cross-Border Strikes Continue

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's security service said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Officials said four buildings were affected and significant harm was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Concerning previous allegations of a UAV attack targeting a property of Russian president, American and European authorities agree that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. A report stated that American security officials determined the alleged incident "never occurred".

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

EU Official Labels Allegations a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's claims "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept baseless claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Other Updates

• North Korean Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops operating in an "foreign land" in a new year's message. Reports indicate the country has sent a significant number of troops to aid Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's only oil refinery.