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As part of his New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent complete. "This deal is 90% complete, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is much more than simply figures."

A Deal Requires Strong Assurances, Not Fragile Truce

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine desires an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What does our nation want? Peace? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he declared. "We want an end to the conflict but not the end of Ukraine."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is deeply mistaken," he added.

He expressed skepticism about Russian intentions, stating that even if forces pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

EU Allies to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will make solid commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following a potential peace deal with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Attacks Reported

At the same time, reports of hostile strikes continued. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

In southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Local authorities confirmed multiple buildings were damaged and significant damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Incident

Regarding recent allegations of a drone attack targeting a residence of Russia's president, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. A report indicated that US national security agencies determined the alleged attack "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a video purporting to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

European Official Labels Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's assertions "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should accept baseless claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Involvement: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent thousands of personnel to support the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly given a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity manages Serbia's sole refinery.