Mon Dec 29 22:36:00 UTC 2025: News Article:

Zelenskyy Denies Alleged Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence, Accuses Russia of Sabotaging Peace Talks

KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vehemently denied Russia’s claim that Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on a residence belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Novgorod region of northwestern Russia. The denial comes amidst ongoing peace negotiations and accusations from Kyiv that Moscow is attempting to derail the process.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted that the alleged attack occurred on Sunday, involving 91 long-range strike drones that were reportedly intercepted by air defense systems. No injuries were reported. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov pointedly noted the alleged attack occurred “practically immediately after” talks between Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida regarding a potential end to the war.

Zelenskyy swiftly dismissed the claim as a fabrication, accusing Russia of seeking to undermine peace talks. Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha echoed this sentiment, stating that the allegation was intended to create a false pretext for further Russian attacks against Ukraine and to impede the peace process. Russia has threatened to reassess its negotiating position following the alleged attack, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warning of a response that “would not be diplomatic.”

Trump confirmed speaking with Putin who raised the allegation of Ukrainian attack on president residence. Trump said he was angry about the news and will investigate the situation.

The alleged attack and subsequent denials have cast a shadow over the already fragile peace negotiations, which have seen recent progress. Zelenskyy stated last week that a 20-point peace plan was “90 percent agreed” and U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees were “100 percent agreed.” However, significant disagreements persist, particularly regarding the future of Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine.

Amidst the diplomatic tensions, fighting continues across multiple fronts in Ukraine. Russia claimed to have captured the village of Dibrova in the Donetsk region, while Ukrainian officials reported civilian casualties in the Zaporizhia and Kharkiv regions due to Russian attacks. Both sides reported ongoing combat engagements across several sectors of the front line.

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