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In a year-end message, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible treaty was 90% complete. "The peace agreement is 90 percent complete, 10% remains," he noted. "This is much more than simply numbers."

An Agreement Needs Robust Assurances, Not Weak Truce

The president made clear that Ukraine desires peace but would not accept it at "any cost". "What is it that Ukraine desires? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No," he said. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are ready to give up? Any person who believes that is deeply mistaken," he added.

He expressed doubt about Moscow's intentions, suggesting that even if troops withdrew from the Donbas region, the war would not necessarily cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how a lie translates," he commented.

EU Allies to Plan Post-War Security

Separately, France's President Emmanuel Macron stated that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm commitments towards protecting Ukraine after any agreement with Russia is brokered.

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Kyiv's security service said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles struck an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding six people, including children. Officials said four buildings were damaged and significant harm was reported to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Drone Incident

Concerning recent allegations of a UAV attack aimed at a property of Russia's leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukrainian forces did not target the event. A report indicated that American security officials concluded the alleged attack "did not happen".

Reacting, Russia's defence ministry released a video claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story.

European Diplomat Calls Claims a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas called Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should accept unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Developments

• North Korean Involvement: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media praised troops operating in an "alien land" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to aid Russia's invasion in the region.
• Restrictions Extension: The US have reportedly given a temporary reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. This entity operates the country's only refinery.