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During his New Year's Eve address, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a possible treaty was 90% prepared. "This deal is 90% ready, 10% remains," he said. "This is far more than simply numbers."

A Deal Needs Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Ceasefire

Zelenskyy stressed that his country desires an end to the war but would not accept it at "any possible price". "What is it that our nation desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the end of our country."

"Are we tired? Very. Does that imply we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," he added.

He voiced doubt about Russian aims, suggesting that even if forces pulled out from the Donbas region, the war would not necessarily end. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. That is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies gathering in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards ensuring the security of Ukraine after a potential peace deal with Russia is brokered.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of military strikes continued. An official from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukrainian long-range drones struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Local authorities said four apartment buildings were affected and significant damage was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Drone Attack

Concerning recent allegations of a UAV strike targeting a property of Russian president, American and European officials agree that Ukraine was not behind the incident. An article indicated that American national security officials concluded the reported incident "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a video claiming to show fragments of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story.

EU Official Labels Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas described Russia's claims "a deliberate diversion". "No one should accept baseless allegations from the invading force," she said.

Other Developments

• DPRK Involvement: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops serving in an "foreign land" in a New Year address. Reports suggest the country has sent a significant number of troops to support Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have according to a minister granted a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled oil company until 23 January. The company operates the country's sole oil refinery.