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During his year-end address, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible peace deal was ninety percent prepared. "This deal is 90% ready, 10% is left," he remarked. "And that is far more than just numbers."

An Agreement Requires Strong Guarantees, Not Weak Ceasefire

The president stressed that his country wants peace but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What is it that our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? No," he said. "Our goal is a conclusion to the war but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Any person who thinks so is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed doubt about Russian intentions, stating that should forces withdrew from the eastern Donbas, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how deception translates," he remarked.

European Allies to Discuss Post-War Security

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will make solid pledges towards protecting Ukraine after a potential peace deal with Moscow is brokered.

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

At the same time, accounts of military actions continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU reported that Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Local authorities said four apartment buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Drone Incident

Regarding recent claims of a drone strike targeting a property of Russia's leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target the incident. An article stated that US national security agencies concluded the alleged incident "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a footage claiming to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "laughable" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story.

EU Official Calls Claims a "Diversion"

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

Other Developments

• North Korean Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a new year's address. Reports indicate the country has sent a significant number of personnel to support the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Extension: United States authorities have according to a minister given a short-term reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity operates the country's sole refinery.