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As part of his year-end message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was 90% ready. "The peace agreement is 90% ready, ten percent remains," he remarked. "And that is much more than just figures."

An Agreement Needs Robust Guarantees, Not 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 desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he said. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are ready to capitulate? Any person who believes that is profoundly mistaken," he added.

He voiced doubt about Russian aims, suggesting that should forces withdrew from the eastern region, the war would not cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. That is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will establish firm pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following any peace deal with Moscow is reached.

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, reports of military strikes continued. A source from Kyiv's security service reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding several people, including minors. Local authorities said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and considerable damage was caused to two power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Aerial Incident

Concerning previous allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a residence of Russia's president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. A report indicated that US national security agencies determined the reported attack "did not happen".

Reacting, Russia's ministry of defense published a footage claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should accept baseless claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Other Updates

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "foreign land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to aid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Extension: United States authorities have according to a minister given a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company operates the country's sole refinery.