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As part of his year-end speech, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible treaty was 90% prepared. "This peace agreement is 90% ready, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is much more than simply figures."

A Deal Requires Strong Guarantees, Not Weak Ceasefire

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine seeks an end to the war but not at "any possible price". "What does our nation want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of Ukraine."

"Are we tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Anyone who believes that is deeply mistaken," he added.

He voiced skepticism about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that should troops pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the conflict would not end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

EU Allies to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners meeting in Paris in early January will establish firm commitments towards ensuring the security of the country following any peace deal with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. A source 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 fire.

In southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding six people, among them children. Local authorities confirmed four buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Regarding recent allegations of a UAV attack targeting a residence of Russian leader, US and European officials agree that Ukraine was not behind the event. A report indicated that American security officials concluded the alleged attack "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a video claiming to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

European Official Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should believe unfounded claims from the aggressor," she said.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a new year's address. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly given a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. This entity operates Serbia's sole refinery.