Ukraine Denies Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly dismissed allegations from Russia regarding a drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, labeling Moscow’s claims as tactics to sabotage ongoing peace negotiations.
– Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, asserted that Ukraine launched an overnight attack using 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region of northwestern Russia.
– In response, Zelensky characterized these accusations as “typical Russian lies,” insisting that they serve as a pretext for the Kremlin to intensify its assaults on Ukraine.
– He highlighted Russia’s history of threatening government buildings in Kyiv and stressed the importance of global awareness, stating, “It is critical that the world doesn’t stay silent now. We cannot allow Russia to undermine the work on achieving a lasting peace.”
In a Monday statement shared on Telegram, Lavrov claimed that all 91 drones had been intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defense systems, with no casualties or damage reported. He asserted, “Given the final degeneration of the criminal Kyiv regime, which has switched to a policy of state terrorism, Russia’s negotiating position will be revised.” However, he clarified that Russia does not intend to withdraw from negotiations with the United States, according to the Russian news agency Tass.
This dramatic claim from Moscow followed talks between the US and Ukraine in Florida, where Presidents Trump and Zelensky discussed a revised peace plan aimed at ending the war. Zelensky revealed that the US had offered Ukraine security guarantees for 15 years, with Trump noting that an agreement on this front was close to 95% done. Key lingering issues included territorial disputes and the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, leaving little progress on the future of Ukraine’s contested Donbas region, which Russia seeks to fully annex.
Currently, Moscow exerts control over approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and nearly 99% of Luhansk, both of which are part of the wider Donbas area. Russia has consistently rejected critical components of the proposed plan.
On Monday, the White House reported that President Trump had concluded a positive call with Putin following the US-Ukraine discussions. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov disclosed that during his conversation with Trump, Putin highlighted that the alleged attack on his residence occurred “almost straight after what the US had considered to be a successful round of talks.” Ushakov noted, “The US president was shocked by this information; he was angry and said he couldn’t believe such mad actions. It was stated that this will no doubt affect the US approach to working with Zelensky.”
During a press conference later, Trump initially asserted he was unaware of the alleged incident but later confirmed that Putin had informed him about it, expressing his anger. When pressed about whether the US had seen any evidence supporting Russia’s claims, he replied, Well, we’ll find out. You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place — that’s possible too, I guess. But President Putin told me this morning it did.
In conclusion, the ongoing tension surrounding the alleged drone attack reinforces the precarious nature of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. It emphasizes the need for clarity and truth in the face of propaganda as both nations seek a resolution to their conflict.