According to the Kremlin, Putin informed Trump of his decision over the phone on Monday, while Kyiv dismissed the Russian accusations as a fabrication meant to sabotage the peace effort.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump addressed the conflict, claiming that Putin had informed him of the alleged attack during their conversation. The US president claimed to be "extremely angry," perhaps siding with Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has dismissed the Russian claims as a “new lie” and warned that Moscow could be using it as an excuse to prepare an attack on government buildings in Kyiv.
The Russian president said that his federation intends to work closely with the US on peace efforts, but would reconsider a number of previously reached agreements.
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Following a frenzy of diplomatic action at year's end as the US president works to broker a settlement to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and complete a vow he made for his first day back in office, Putin and Trump held their second call in as many days on Monday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier on Monday that Ukraine attempted to attack a presidential residence in the Novgorod region, more than 400 kilometres northwest of Moscow, with 91 drones, adding that Russia would retaliate and that targets had already been selected.
His Ukrainian rival and counterpart, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, on Monday cast it as a false claim to justify continuing the war.
Over the past few weeks, Ukrainian officials have worked hard to update a 28-point draft plan that was first put up by the US but was viewed as being unduly advantageous to Russia. Moscow has cautioned that several of the 20 points in the most recent version include things it won't accept, such as the strength of Ukraine's post-war military.
