🔗 Share this article

In a year-end speech, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a potential treaty was ninety percent prepared. "The peace agreement is 90% complete, ten percent remains," he said. "And that is much more than just figures."

A Deal Needs Strong Guarantees, Not a Fragile Ceasefire

Zelenskyy emphasized that his country wants an end to the war but not at "any price". "What is it that Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. No matter the price? Certainly not," he said. "We want a conclusion to the war but not the end of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does that imply we are prepared to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy continued.

He voiced skepticism about Russian intentions, stating that should forces pulled out from the Donbas region, the war would not cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and everything will end. This is how a lie sounds," he remarked.

EU Leaders to Discuss Post-Conflict Security

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will make firm pledges towards ensuring the security of the country following a potential peace deal with Russia is brokered.

Cross-Border Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of military strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's SBU said that Ukrainian long-range drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large blaze.

On the other side, in southern Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding six people, among them children. Local authorities confirmed four apartment buildings were damaged and considerable harm was caused to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Aerial Attack

Regarding previous claims of a drone attack targeting a property of Russia's president, American and European officials agree that Ukraine did not target the incident. An article indicated that American national security officials determined the alleged attack "did not happen".

In response, The Russian defence ministry released a footage purporting to show debris of a downed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's foreign ministry ridiculed the evidence as "laughable" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the narrative.

European Diplomat Calls Claims a "Distraction"

Kaja Kallas described Moscow's assertions "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should believe baseless allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Additional Updates

• North Korean Role: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a New Year message. Intelligence assessments indicate the country has sent a significant number of troops to support the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have according to a minister given a short-term reprieve from sanctions to a Serbia-based, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. The company manages the country's sole refinery.