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In a year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible peace agreement was ninety percent prepared. "This peace agreement is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he said. "This is much more than simply numbers."

A Deal Requires Strong Guarantees, Not a Weak Ceasefire

Zelenskyy emphasized that his country desires an end to the war but not at "any price". "What is it that Ukraine desires? Peace? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "We want an end to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Is the nation exhausted? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Any person who believes that is profoundly wrong," he continued.

He voiced skepticism about Russian intentions, suggesting that should troops withdrew from the eastern region, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Plan Post-War Guarantees

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following a potential agreement with Russia is brokered.

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

At the same time, reports of military strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, including minors. Local authorities said multiple buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Attack

Concerning recent claims of a UAV attack aimed at a residence of Russia's leader, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. An article indicated that American national security officials concluded the reported attack "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a video claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in creating the story.

EU Diplomat Labels Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's assertions "an intentional distraction". "No one should believe baseless allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Other Updates

• North Korean Role: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until late January. The company operates Serbia's only oil refinery.