🔗 Share this article

During his year-end address, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a possible treaty was ninety percent prepared. "This peace agreement is 90% ready, ten percent is left," he said. "And that is much more than simply numbers."

A Deal Needs Robust Assurances, Not a Weak Truce

The president made clear that Ukraine desires an end to the war but not at "any cost". "What is it that Ukraine desires? An end to hostilities? Absolutely. At any cost? No," he said. "Our goal is a conclusion to the conflict but not the destruction of our country."

"Are we exhausted? Very. Does this mean we are ready to give up? Anyone who thinks so is profoundly mistaken," Zelenskyy added.

He expressed skepticism about Moscow's aims, stating that even if troops pulled out from the eastern Donbas, the war would not cease. "Withdraw from the eastern regions, and it will all be over. This is how deception sounds," he remarked.

European Leaders to Discuss Post-War Guarantees

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders and allies meeting in Paris in early January will establish firm pledges towards ensuring the security of Ukraine following any peace deal with Moscow is reached.

Reciprocal Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, accounts of hostile strikes persisted. A source from Ukraine's security service said that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Rybinsk, causing a large blaze.

In Ukraine, a Russian drone attack hit apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, wounding six people, among them minors. Officials confirmed four buildings were affected and significant damage was caused to a couple of energy facilities.

Contested Claims Over Drone Incident

Regarding previous allegations of a UAV strike targeting a residence of Russia's leader, American and European authorities are in agreement that Ukraine was not behind the event. An article stated that US security agencies concluded the reported incident "never occurred".

Reacting, Russia's ministry of defense released a video claiming to show fragments of a destroyed Ukrainian-made drone. A Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the footage as "absurd" and suggested it showed a lack of seriousness in fabricating the narrative.

EU Official Calls Claims a "Distraction"

The EU's top diplomat called Moscow's assertions "an intentional diversion". "Nobody should accept baseless claims from the aggressor," she said.

Additional Developments

• DPRK Involvement: The DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly praised troops serving in an "alien territory" in a new year's message. Intelligence assessments suggest North Korea has sent a significant number of personnel to aid Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
• Restrictions Reprieve: United States authorities have reportedly granted a temporary exemption from sanctions to a Serbian, largely Russian-controlled oil company until late January. The company operates the country's sole oil refinery.