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During his year-end message, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace deal was ninety percent complete. "The peace agreement is 90% ready, ten percent is left," he remarked. "This is far more than simply numbers."

A Deal Requires Robust Guarantees, Not Weak Ceasefire

The president made clear that his country wants peace but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What is it that our nation want? An end to hostilities? Yes. At any cost? No," he said. "We want an end to the war but not the end of our country."

"Are we tired? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to give up? Anyone who believes that is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that should troops withdrew from the eastern region, the war would not end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception translates," he commented.

EU Allies to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, France's President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris in early January will establish solid commitments towards protecting the country following any agreement with Moscow is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes continued. An official from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault hit residential blocks and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, among them children. Local authorities confirmed four apartment buildings were affected and considerable harm was reported to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Aerial Incident

Concerning previous claims of a UAV attack targeting a residence of Russia's leader, American and European authorities agree that Ukraine was not behind the incident. A report indicated that US security agencies determined the reported attack "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry released a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the story.

EU Diplomat Labels Claims a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should accept unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Other Updates

• DPRK Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year message. Reports indicate North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have according to a minister granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. The company manages Serbia's only refinery.