Zelenskyy rejects Russia’s claim that Ukrainian drones attacked Putin’s residence – National
Russia says it is reviewing its negotiating position after Ukrainian drones attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence on Monday night, allegations the Ukrainian president called a “complete hoax.”
In a statement on his ministry’s Telegram channel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of “moving toward a policy of state terrorism” and said “such acts of terrorism cannot be answered.” He said the terms and timing of the retaliatory strikes have been decided.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an X post that the allegations were “intended to justify further attacks on Ukraine, including Kyiv,” and undermine peace talks.
He wrote: “Typical Russian lies.
“Ukraine does not take steps that would postpone the negotiations. On the contrary, Russia always takes these steps. This is one of the many views between us.”
The allegations came shortly after Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump emerged from lengthy talks in Florida with claims of progress, but no word on a deal that could end Russia’s brutal, years-long war.
The talks were held as Russia continued to bombard Ukraine with missile and drone strikes over the weekend, including in the capital Kyiv.
Trump told reporters on Monday that he heard about Putin’s alleged attack during a phone call earlier that day.
“He said he was attacked. It’s not good, it’s not helpful,” Trump said, adding later that he was “very angry” about the claim.
Get the latest country news
For news that affects Canada and the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you as they happen.
“This is a critical time. This is not the right time. It’s one thing to provoke, because (Russia) they provoke. It’s another thing to attack his home. It’s not the right time to do any of that. I won’t do it.”
Trump later admitted that “it’s possible, I think” the attack didn’t happen, “but President Putin told me this morning that it happened.”
Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin foreign policy aide, said in a separate Telegram statement that Putin and Trump spoke on Monday and that Putin had been briefed by Trump and his top advisers about Washington’s talks with Ukraine.
Trump was shocked and “furious” when Putin told him that Ukraine had attacked the president’s residence in Novgorod, Ushakov said.
“The situation in Russia will be reviewed in the many agreements reached in the previous phase and emerging solutions,” said Ushakov. “This was stated very clearly.”
White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt described Trump’s phone call with Putin as “good” in the X post.
Lavrov emphasized in his statement that Russia is not withdrawing from talks with the US
“At the same time, given the final collapse of the Kyiv criminal regime, which has moved on to a policy of state terrorism, Russia’s negotiating position will be reviewed,” he said in Russian.
Lavrov said the alleged “terrorist attack” in Ukraine involved 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that targeted the Russian president’s residence in the Novgorod region, south of St. Petersburg.
Russian air defenses destroyed all the UAVs, Lavrov said, and there were “no reports of injuries or damage” from the debris. It is not clear whether Putin was present at the residence at the time.
“Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all the success of our efforts to share with President Trump’s team,” Zelenskyy wrote in X.
“We will not allow Russia to undermine the task of achieving lasting peace.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told X that Moscow’s statements are “a typical Russian strategy: blame the other side for what you are doing or planning.”
“We urge the world to condemn Russia’s provocative statements aimed at disrupting the constructive peace process,” he wrote.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said in X that she spoke with Sybiha on Monday to “reinforce Canada’s support” with Ukraine and discussed peace talks, but did not mention Russia’s allegations.
Global News has asked Anand’s office and Global Affairs Canada for comment on the alleged attack and Russian statements.
– via files from Reuters
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
