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As part of his year-end address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential treaty was ninety percent complete. "This peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% is left," he noted. "And that is far more than just numbers."

An Agreement Requires Robust Assurances, Not Fragile Ceasefire

Zelenskyy stressed that his country seeks an end to the war but not at "any price". "What does Ukraine want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we weary? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to give up? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly wrong," he continued.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's aims, suggesting that even if forces withdrew from the Donbas region, the conflict would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how a lie sounds," he commented.

European Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners gathering in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following a potential agreement with Moscow is brokered.

Cross-Border Attacks Continue

At the same time, reports of military strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault hit residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Local authorities said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and considerable damage was caused to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Incident

Concerning recent claims of a UAV attack aimed at a residence of Russian leader, American and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. An article stated that American national security officials concluded the alleged attack "did not happen".

In response, Russia's ministry of defense released a footage claiming to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "laughable" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story.

European Official Labels Claims a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Other Updates

• DPRK Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops operating in an "alien land" in a New Year address. Reports suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Sanctions Extension: United States authorities have reportedly granted a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned energy firm until late January. The company manages Serbia's only refinery.