President Donald Trump has commented following accusations by Vladimir Putin that Ukraine attempted an overnight drone strike on his residence, intensifying concerns about the conflict’s potential escalation.
Russian officials reported that Ukraine aimed to attack Putin’s state residence in Russia’s northwestern Novgorod region with 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, stated on Monday, December 29, that all drones were intercepted and neutralized by Russian air defense systems, preventing any damage.
In a Telegram statement, Lavrov mentioned there were no reported casualties or structural damage from the purported attack. However, he cautioned that the event could negatively affect ongoing peace negotiations.
“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,” he asserted.
Nevertheless, Lavrov added that Russia does not plan to abandon negotiations with the US, as reported by Tass, the Russian state news agency.
Putin’s location during the alleged drone attack remains unknown.
The claims emerged after discussions between the US and Ukraine in Florida on Sunday, where Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explored a revised peace plan to end the war.
Trump spoke about the situation yesterday while meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
“Yeah, I don’t, I don’t like it – it’s not good. I heard about it this morning. Do you know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it early in the morning – he said he was attacked,” Trump informed reporters.
He added: “It’s no good, it’s no good. Don’t forget, you know, the Tomahawks? I stopped the Tomahawks. I didn’t want that, because we’re talking about, you know, it’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time.”
“It’s one thing to be offensive because they were offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that and can’t do it – and I learned about it from President Putin today. I was very angry about it.”
Zelenskyy firmly denied the accusation, dismissing it as ‘typical Russian lies’ in a post on X.
“Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with President Trump’s team. We keep working together to bring peace closer,” he stated.
“This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies.”
He further emphasized, “Ukraine does not take steps that can undermine diplomacy… It is critical that the world doesn’t stay silent now. We cannot allow Russia to undermine the work on achieving a lasting peace.”