Monitoring Desk (MNN); Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of attempting to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northern Russia, a claim Kyiv strongly denied, calling it baseless and aimed at derailing ongoing peace efforts. Moscow did not present any evidence to support the allegation.
The exchange of accusations has dealt a fresh setback to already fragile prospects for ending the Ukraine conflict. Russia said it was reviewing its position in peace negotiations following the alleged incident, raising concerns about the future of diplomatic efforts.
The claims surfaced a day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida. Trump said the two sides were “very close” to reaching an agreement to end the war, though he acknowledged that sensitive territorial disputes remained unresolved.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov alleged that Ukraine attempted to strike Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region between December 28 and 29 using 91 long-range drones. He claimed all drones were intercepted by Russian air defences and that there were no casualties or damage. Lavrov termed the alleged act “state terrorism” and warned that Russia would respond, saying targets for retaliation had already been identified.
Lavrov also stated that the reported attack occurred during peace negotiations, adding that while Russia would reassess its stance, it would not abandon the talks altogether.
Ukrainian President Zelensky rejected the accusations outright, saying Russia was fabricating claims to justify new attacks on Ukraine, possibly targeting Kyiv and government buildings. He said Moscow was unhappy with progress in U.S.-Ukraine talks and wanted to undermine them. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed the denial, urging the international community to condemn what he called a Russian disinformation attempt.
Meanwhile, President Putin adopted a firm tone, instructing his military to intensify efforts to take full control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Russia also reiterated its demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw from parts of eastern Ukraine still under Kyiv’s control.
Despite diplomatic contacts, key territorial disputes remain unresolved, including control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the future of the Donbas region, underscoring the complexity of any potential peace deal.
