Russia has levelled a serious accusation against Ukraine, claiming an attempted drone strike on President Vladimir Putin's official residence. The alleged incident, which Moscow says involved dozens of long-range drones, has sparked a sharp war of words and drawn a reaction from former US President Donald Trump.
Moscow's Allegation and Kyiv's Firm Denial
On Monday, Russian authorities stated that Ukrainian forces attempted to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in the Novgorod region overnight. The Kremlin's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, asserted that the attack involved 91 long-range drones, all of which were reportedly destroyed by Russian air defence systems. Lavrov claimed there were no injuries or damage from the incident.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly rejected the accusation. In a post on the social media platform X, Zelensky labelled Russia's claims as "a complete fabrication". He argued that the narrative was intended to justify further Russian attacks on Ukraine and to undermine ongoing diplomatic peace talks.
Trump's Reaction After Speaking with Putin
The allegation found a prominent international audience when former US President Donald Trump commented on it. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump revealed he had learned of the incident directly from President Putin in an early morning call.
"I heard about it this morning. You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it," Trump told reporters. He expressed his displeasure, stating, "I don't like it, it's not good... I was very angry about it." Trump suggested the timing was poor, likely referencing the fragile peace negotiations, and remarked, "It's one thing to be offensive, because [Russia is] offensive, it's another thing to attack [Putin's] house."
When questioned about evidence for the attack, Trump replied, "Well, we'll find out. You're saying maybe the attack didn't take place? That's possible, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning." His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed the call, describing it as "positive" concerning Ukraine.
Diplomatic Fallout and Threats of Retaliation
The incident has injected fresh tension into the conflict. Foreign Minister Lavrov declared that Moscow's negotiating position to end the war is now "under review". He issued a stark warning, stating, "Such reckless actions will not go unanswered. The targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their implementation by the Russian armed forces have been determined."
President Zelensky anticipated this move, warning that Russia would use the alleged attack as a pretext to strike Ukrainian government buildings in Kyiv. He emphasised continued diplomatic efforts, writing, "We keep working together to bring peace closer."
The claims emerged just after Trump and Zelensky held a three-hour meeting at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday. Both leaders indicated they were "very close" to a deal, with about "90 percent" of the way there. However, they acknowledged that key territorial issues and "one or two very thorny issues" remained unresolved.
Trump's apparent siding with Russia's version drew criticism from within the US. Republican Representative Don Bacon cautioned on X, "President Trump and his team should get the facts first before assuming blame. Putin is a well known boldface liar." The situation underscores the delicate and volatile state of the conflict as diplomatic efforts continue amidst mutual accusations.
