🔗 Share this article

During his New Year's Eve address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace agreement was 90% ready. "The deal is 90% complete, ten percent is left," he noted. "This is much more than just numbers."

An Agreement Requires Robust Assurances, Not a Fragile Truce

The president made clear that Ukraine desires peace but not at "any possible price". "What is it that Ukraine desires? Peace? Yes. At any cost? Certainly not," he declared. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to capitulate? Any person who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," he continued.

He voiced skepticism about Russian aims, stating that even if forces pulled out from the Donbas Donbas, the war would not necessarily end. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. That is how a lie translates," he commented.

European Leaders to Discuss Post-War Security

Separately, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that European allies and partners gathering in Paris on 6 January will establish solid commitments towards ensuring the security of the country after a potential peace deal with Russia is reached.

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, reports of hostile actions continued. A source from Kyiv's SBU said that Ukraine's long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.

In southern Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six people, among them minors. Officials said multiple apartment buildings were damaged and considerable damage was reported to two energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Aerial Attack

Concerning previous allegations of a drone strike targeting a property of Russia's leader, US and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine did not target the event. An article stated that US security officials concluded the reported incident "did not happen".

In response, Russia's ministry of defense released a video purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

Kaja Kallas described Russia's claims "a deliberate distraction". "Nobody should accept unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she remarked.

Additional Updates

• DPRK Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops serving in an "foreign territory" in a New Year message. Reports indicate North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to support the Russian invasion in the region.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have according to a minister granted a short-term reprieve from restrictions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until late January. The company manages Serbia's sole oil refinery.