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In a New Year's Eve message, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible treaty was ninety percent ready. "The deal is 90 percent ready, ten percent remains," he noted. "And that is far more than just figures."

A Deal Requires Robust Guarantees, Not Fragile Truce

The president stressed that his country desires an end to the war but not at "any cost". "What is it that our nation desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Are we weary? Extremely. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed doubt about Russian aims, stating that even if forces pulled out from the eastern Donbas, the conflict would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Plan Post-Conflict Guarantees

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

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

At the same time, accounts of military strikes continued. A source from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant fire.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck residential blocks and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, including children. Local authorities confirmed four buildings were affected and considerable harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Regarding recent claims of a drone strike aimed at a property of Russia's president, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. A report stated that American national security officials concluded the alleged attack "never occurred".

In response, Russia's ministry of defense released a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the narrative.

European Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat described Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• North Korean Role: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year address. Reports suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to aid the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity operates the country's only oil refinery.