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

An Agreement Requires Robust Assurances, Not Fragile Ceasefire

Zelenskyy made clear that his country seeks an end to the war but would not accept it at "any price". "What is it that our nation want? An end to hostilities? Yes. At any cost? No," he declared. "We want an end to the war but not the end of our country."

"Is the nation tired? Extremely. Does this mean we are prepared to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly wrong," Zelenskyy continued.

He expressed skepticism about Russian intentions, stating that even if forces pulled out from the eastern region, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and it will all be over. This is how deception translates," he remarked.

EU Allies to Discuss Post-War Guarantees

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that European allies and partners gathering in Paris in early January will make solid pledges towards protecting Ukraine after any agreement with Moscow is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukrainian long-range drones hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a significant blaze.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched drone attack hit apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, including children. Local authorities said four buildings were damaged and significant harm was caused to two energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Concerning previous allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russia's leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the incident. An article stated that American security officials determined the alleged attack "did not happen".

In response, The Russian ministry of defense released a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. 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 narrative.

EU Diplomat Calls Allegations a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's claims "a deliberate diversion". "No one should believe unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she remarked.

Other Updates

• North Korean Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops serving in an "foreign land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to support the Russian invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have according to a minister given a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. The company manages the country's only refinery.