EditPeace hopes dim as Russia accuses Ukraine of drone strike on Putin’s residence
As negotiations teeter, the unsubstantiated drone accusations risk unraveling fragile trust
Hopes for a swift resolution to Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine suffered a significant setback on Monday as Moscow accused Kyiv of launching a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, a claim swiftly denied by Ukrainian officials as a baseless fabrication designed to sabotage ongoing peace negotiations.
The allegations emerged amid fragile diplomatic momentum following U.S. President Donald Trump’s weekend meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. That encounter had sparked cautious optimism, with both leaders reporting progress on key issues like security guarantees for Ukraine.
However, the fresh accusations from the Kremlin injected new tension, prompting Russia to vow retaliation and review its negotiating stance.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov detailed the purported incident in a statement carried by state media, claiming that Ukraine deployed 91 long-range drones to target Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region – likely referring to his Valdai estate west of Moscow – over the night of 28-29 December. Lavrov asserted that all drones were intercepted by Russian air defences, resulting in no injuries or damage. He branded the alleged assault as “state terrorism” and warned that such “reckless actions will not go unanswered,” with retaliatory targets already selected by Russia’s military.
No evidence was provided to substantiate the claims, and agencies have been unable to independently verify them. It remains unclear where Putin was during the supposed attack. Lavrov emphasized that the incident occurred amid active peace talks, leading Russia to reassess its position without abandoning negotiations entirely.
The accusations quickly escalated to the highest levels. Putin personally informed Trump of the alleged strike during a Monday morning phone call, according to the U.S. president. Speaking to reporters outside his Palm Beach residence, Trump described the conversation as “productive” despite the controversy. He expressed disapproval, calling the purported attack “unkind” and ill-timed.
“It’s one thing to be offensive,” Trump said. “It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that.”
However, he acknowledged uncertainty, noting he had only heard about it from Putin and lacked additional details. “I just heard about it, but I don’t actually know about it. That would be very bad,” Trump added, suggesting it could be a “fake” but emphasizing its potential to disrupt progress.
Trump reiterated his belief that a peace deal remains within reach, stating, “We have a couple of issues that we’re going to get resolved, hopefully, and if we get them resolved, you’re going to have peace.” He did not confirm whether U.S. intelligence had corroborated the claims, saying simply, “We’ll find out.”
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy vehemently rejected the allegations, labelling them a “complete fabrication” orchestrated by the Kremlin to undermine recent diplomatic gains. In comments to reporters via WhatsApp, Zelenskyy suggested the accusations were a pretext for Russian escalation. “It is clear that we had a meeting with Trump yesterday, and it is clear that for the Russians, if there is no scandal between us and America, and we are making progress – for them it is a failure, because they do not want to end this war,” he said. Zelenskyy warned that Moscow might be “preparing the ground for strikes, probably on the capital, probably on government buildings.”
In a separate phone conversation with Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Zelenskyy framed the Russian claims as inadvertent validation of Ukraine’s strengthening ties with the U.S.
“We did a very good job, and the fact that the Russians are now trying to disrupt progress with yet another fake news only confirms the quality of our meetings and communication with the American side,” he stated, according to a readout from his office.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov amplified the narrative, claiming Trump was “shocked” and “outraged” by the news, predicting it would prompt a shift in U.S. approaches toward Zelenskyy.
“This will undoubtedly affect American approaches to working with Zelensky,” Ushakov said.
Compounding the diplomatic chill, Putin adopted a hardline posture on Monday, instructing his generals to intensify efforts to seize the entirety of Zaporizhzhia region, where Russia holds about 75%. Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky reported Russian forces were just 15 kilometers from the regional capital, Zaporizhzhia city.
“In the near future, it is necessary to continue the offensive,” Putin responded.
Lavrov, in an interview with RIA Novosti, reinforced Russia’s battlefield dominance: “The strategic initiative rests wholly with the Russian army.” He insisted that Ukraine and its Western backers must accept this reality.
Zelenskyy, in a Fox News interview aired late Monday, reiterated his distrust of Putin. “I don’t trust Putin and he doesn’t want success for Ukraine,” he said, stressing that Kyiv cannot prevail without U.S. backing. He also pushed for a 50-year security pact, highlighting the long-term stakes.
With European Pravda and Reuters
Caption: Russian Foreign Minster Sergey Lavrov attends a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (not pictured) after their meeting at Al Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, 19 December 2025. EPA/MOHAMED HOSSAM
Updated: December 30, 2025 - 06:50
