🔗 Share this article

In a New Year's Eve address, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a potential peace deal was ninety percent prepared. "This deal is 90% ready, 10% remains," he remarked. "This is much more than just figures."

An Agreement Needs Robust Guarantees, Not a Fragile Truce

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine wants an end to the war but not at "any cost". "What does Ukraine desires? Peace? Absolutely. At any cost? Certainly not," he said. "Our goal is an end to the war but not the end of our country."

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

He expressed doubt about Russian aims, stating that should forces withdrew from the Donbas region, the war would not cease. "Pull out from the Donbas, and everything will end. That is how a lie translates," he commented.

EU Allies to Discuss Post-Conflict Guarantees

In related news, French leader Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will make solid commitments towards protecting the country after a potential peace deal with Moscow is reached.

Reciprocal Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, accounts of military strikes persisted. An official from Ukraine's security service reported that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a significant fire.

In Ukraine, a Russian-launched aerial assault struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, wounding several people, among them minors. Officials confirmed four apartment buildings were damaged and significant damage was caused to two power facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Attack

Concerning previous allegations of a UAV strike aimed at a property of Russia's leader, American and European authorities agree that Ukraine did not target the event. An article indicated that US national security agencies concluded the alleged incident "did not happen".

Reacting, Russia's ministry of defense released a video claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian foreign ministry dismissed the footage as "laughable" and stated it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the story.

European Official Calls Claims a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat called Russia's assertions "a deliberate distraction". "No one should believe baseless claims from the aggressor," she said.

Other Developments

• North Korean Involvement: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly hailed troops serving in an "alien territory" in a New Year address. Intelligence assessments suggest the country has sent thousands of personnel to aid the Russian military campaign in the region.
• Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a short-term exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned oil company until 23 January. This entity operates the country's sole oil refinery.