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In a year-end speech, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a possible treaty was ninety percent ready. "This deal is 90 percent complete, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is much more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Requires Robust Guarantees, Not Weak Ceasefire

The president emphasized that his country seeks an end to the war but not at "any price". "What does our nation desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he declared. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we weary? Very. Does that imply we are ready to capitulate? Anyone who believes that is profoundly mistaken," he added.

He voiced skepticism about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that even if forces pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will make solid commitments towards ensuring the security of the country following any agreement with Russia is reached.

Reciprocal Attacks Reported

Meanwhile, reports of hostile actions persisted. An official from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large blaze.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault hit apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Local authorities said multiple buildings were affected and considerable damage was reported to two power facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Regarding recent allegations of a drone attack targeting a property of Russian leader, US and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the incident. An article stated that American security officials determined the reported incident "did not happen".

Reacting, The Russian ministry of defense released a footage purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the footage as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in fabricating the narrative.

European Official Calls Claims a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas called Moscow's assertions "an intentional distraction". "No one should accept baseless claims from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent thousands of personnel to aid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have reportedly granted a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbia-based, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until 23 January. This entity operates Serbia's only refinery.