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As part of his year-end address, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a potential peace agreement was 90% prepared. "The peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% remains," he remarked. "And that is far more than just figures."

An Agreement Requires Robust Assurances, Not a Weak Truce

The president emphasized that Ukraine seeks peace but not at "any cost". "What does Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation tired? Very. Does this mean we are prepared to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is deeply mistaken," he continued.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's aims, suggesting that should forces pulled out from the Donbas region, the war would not end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will establish firm commitments towards protecting Ukraine after a potential agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of military strikes persisted. A source from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukraine's long-range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

In Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them children. Officials confirmed multiple buildings were damaged and significant damage was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Regarding previous claims of a drone strike targeting a residence of Russia's leader, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the event. A report stated that US national security agencies concluded the alleged attack "did not happen".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in fabricating the story.

EU Diplomat Labels Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept unfounded claims from the invading force," she said.

Other Developments

• DPRK Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to support Russia's invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company manages the country's only oil refinery.