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As part of his New Year's Eve address, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent complete. "The deal is 90 percent complete, 10% is left," he said. "And that is far more than just figures."

A Deal Needs Strong Assurances, Not a Fragile Truce

The president emphasized that his country wants an end to the war but not at "any cost". "What does our nation desires? Peace? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the end of our country."

"Are we tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Any person who thinks so is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He voiced doubt about Moscow's intentions, stating that should forces pulled out from the eastern Donbas, the conflict would not end. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. That is how deception sounds," he commented.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-War Security

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will make solid commitments towards protecting Ukraine following a potential agreement with Russia is brokered.

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility 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 the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, among them children. Local authorities confirmed multiple buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to two power facilities.

Disputed Claims Over Aerial Attack

Concerning previous claims of a drone strike aimed at a residence of Russia's leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. A report indicated that US security officials determined the reported attack "did not happen".

Reacting, Russia's ministry of defense released a footage purporting to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

European Diplomat Labels Claims a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should believe baseless claims from the aggressor," she said.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "alien territory" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to aid Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have reportedly granted a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. This entity operates the country's sole oil refinery.