🔗 Share this article

As part of his year-end speech, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace deal was ninety percent complete. "The peace agreement is 90% ready, 10% is left," he said. "And that is far more than simply numbers."

A Deal Requires Strong Guarantees, Not Fragile Truce

The president stressed that his country desires an end to the war but not at "any possible price". "What is it that Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Yes. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the end of Ukraine."

"Is the nation exhausted? Extremely. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is deeply wrong," Zelenskyy added.

He voiced doubt about Russian intentions, stating that should troops pulled out from the Donbas region, the war would not end. "Withdraw from the Donbas, and it will all be over. That is how deception translates," he remarked.

European Allies to Discuss Post-War Guarantees

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU allies and partners gathering in Paris on 6 January will make solid pledges towards protecting the country after any agreement with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Attacks Reported

At the same time, accounts of hostile strikes continued. An official from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian aerial assault struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, including children. Local authorities said multiple buildings were affected and significant harm was reported to two energy facilities.

Contested Allegations Over Drone Incident

Regarding previous claims of a UAV attack targeting a property of Russia's president, American and European authorities agree that Ukraine was not behind the event. A report indicated that US national security agencies determined the reported incident "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry released a footage claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and stated it demonstrated a lack of credibility in creating the narrative.

European Official Labels Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "No one should accept unfounded claims from the invading force," she said.

Additional Updates

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of troops to support Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: The US have reportedly given a temporary reprieve from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled energy firm until late January. The company manages the country's sole refinery.