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As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential treaty was ninety percent ready. "The peace agreement is 90 percent complete, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is far more than just numbers."

A Deal Requires Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Truce

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine wants peace but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does our nation want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine."

"Are we tired? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to capitulate? Anyone who believes that is deeply wrong," he added.

He voiced doubt about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that should troops withdrew from the Donbas region, the war would not end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how a lie translates," he commented.

EU Allies to Plan Post-War Guarantees

In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will establish firm pledges towards protecting the country after a potential agreement with Russia is brokered.

Reciprocal Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, reports of military strikes persisted. An official from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukrainian long-range drones hit an oil depot 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 energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding six people, including minors. Local authorities said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Drone Incident

Concerning recent claims of a drone strike targeting a property of Russian leader, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the incident. An article stated that American security officials concluded the alleged incident "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense published a footage purporting to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of seriousness in creating the narrative.

EU Official Labels Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's claims "an intentional distraction". "Nobody should accept baseless claims from the invading force," she said.

Additional Updates

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "alien land" in a New Year address. Reports suggest the country has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia's invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary exemption from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity manages the country's only oil refinery.