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During his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "The peace agreement is 90% ready, 10% remains," he said. "This is far more than just figures."

An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not Fragile Ceasefire

Zelenskyy stressed that his country wants an end to the war but not at "any possible price". "What does our nation desires? Peace? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Are we weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are prepared to surrender? Any person who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed skepticism about Russian aims, stating that should forces pulled out from the eastern Donbas, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he commented.

European Leaders to Discuss Post-War Security

In related news, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will establish firm pledges towards protecting Ukraine after any agreement with Moscow is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

At the same time, accounts of military strikes continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukraine's long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them children. Local authorities confirmed multiple buildings were damaged and considerable damage was caused to two power facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Aerial Incident

Regarding previous allegations of a UAV strike targeting a residence of Russia's president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the incident. A report stated that American national security agencies determined the alleged attack "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a footage claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "laughable" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the narrative.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's assertions "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should believe unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "foreign land" in a new year's message. Reports indicate the country has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister granted a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until late January. This entity manages Serbia's sole refinery.