🔗 Share this article

In a year-end address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace agreement was ninety percent ready. "The deal is 90 percent ready, ten percent is left," he noted. "And that is much more than just figures."

An Agreement Requires Strong Assurances, Not a Fragile Ceasefire

The president made clear that his country seeks peace but not at "any cost". "What is it that Ukraine want? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he said. "We want a conclusion to the conflict but not the end of our country."

"Are we weary? Extremely. Does this mean we are ready to give up? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly wrong," he continued.

He voiced doubt about Russian intentions, suggesting that should troops pulled out from the eastern region, the conflict would not cease. "Pull out from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. That is how deception translates," he remarked.

European Leaders to Plan Post-War Guarantees

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that EU leaders and allies meeting in Paris on 6 January will establish firm commitments towards ensuring the security of the country after any peace deal with Russia is reached.

Cross-Border Strikes Reported

Meanwhile, reports of military strikes persisted. An official from Kyiv's SBU reported that Ukraine's long-range drones hit an oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, sparking a large fire.

On the other side, in Ukraine, a Russian drone attack struck residential blocks and the power grid in Odesa, injuring six people, including minors. Officials confirmed four buildings were affected and considerable damage was reported to a couple of power facilities.

Disputed Allegations Over Drone Attack

Regarding previous allegations of a UAV attack targeting a property of Russian president, American and European officials are in agreement that Ukrainian forces was not behind the event. An article stated that American national security agencies determined the alleged incident "never occurred".

Reacting, The Russian defence ministry published a video claiming to show debris of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. An official from Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs ridiculed the evidence as "laughable" and stated it demonstrated a lack of seriousness in creating the story.

EU Official Calls Allegations a "Diversion"

The EU's top diplomat described Moscow's claims "a deliberate diversion". "Nobody should accept unfounded allegations from the aggressor," she said.

Additional Updates

• North Korean Role: The DPRK's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media hailed troops operating in an "foreign territory" in a New Year address. Reports suggest the country has sent a significant number of personnel to support Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
• Sanctions Extension: The US have reportedly given a temporary exemption from restrictions to a Serbian, majority Russian-owned energy firm until late January. The company manages Serbia's only oil refinery.