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As part of his year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible treaty was 90% complete. "The deal is 90% ready, ten percent remains," he said. "And that is much more than just figures."

A Deal Needs Strong Assurances, Not a Weak Ceasefire

The president stressed that his country wants an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible cost". "What does our nation want? Peace? Yes. No matter the price? No," he said. "Our goal is a conclusion to the war but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Any person who believes that is deeply wrong," he continued.

He voiced doubt about Russian intentions, stating that should forces pulled out from the eastern Donbas, the conflict would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, France's leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards protecting the country after a potential agreement with Russia is reached.

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of military strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's security service said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, including minors. Local authorities said multiple buildings were affected and considerable damage was caused to two power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Concerning previous claims of a UAV attack targeting a residence of Russian leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. A report indicated that American national security officials determined the reported attack "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a video claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the invading force," she said.

Other Developments

• North Korean Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "foreign land" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to aid Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have according to a minister granted a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until 23 January. This entity operates Serbia's only refinery.