In brief
Ukraine has denied allegations from Russia that it launched a drone strike on President Vladimir Putin's residence. President Zelensky labeled the claims as 'typical Russian lies,' pointing out Moscow's intent to disrupt ongoing peace negotiations. Russia's Foreign Minister announced that 91 drones were reportedly intercepted without any damage, but the Kremlin is considering its negotiating stance due to what it termed state terrorism from Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied allegations by Russia that Ukraine launched a drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin's residences, and accused Moscow of trying to derail peace talks.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Kyiv had launched an attack overnight using 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on Putin's state residence in Russia's northwestern Novgorod region.
Russia said it would now review its position in peace negotiations. It is not yet clear where Putin was at the time of the alleged attack.
Zelensky dismissed the claim as 'typical Russian lies', intended to give the Kremlin an excuse to continue attacks on Ukraine.
He noted that Russia had previously targeted government buildings in Kyiv.
Zelensky stated on X: '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 statement shared on Telegram, Lavrov said all the drones he claimed were launched at Putin's residence were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defense systems. He reported no casualties or damage resulting from the alleged attack.
'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 added. However, he mentioned that Russia does not intend to exit the negotiating process with the US.
This incident occurred after talks between the US and Ukraine in Florida, where Presidents Trump and Zelensky discussed a revised peace plan to end the war.
Zelensky mentioned that the US had offered Ukraine security guarantees for 15 years, and Trump indicated that an agreement on this was 'close to 95%' done.
Territorial issues and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant were cited as the last unresolved matters, with little progress on the future of Ukraine's contested Donbas region, which Russia seeks to annex completely.
Currently, Moscow controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and nearly 99% of neighbouring Luhansk. Russia has previously rejected key components of the plan being discussed.
The White House confirmed that Trump had a 'positive call' with Putin following the US-Ukraine talks. Russian foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned that Putin pointed out the alleged attack on his residence coincided with what the US considered a successful negotiation round, expressing shock and anger from Trump over the incident.
Ushakov warned that 'reckless terrorist action' would receive 'the strongest response' from Russia.
