Russia's foreign minister on Monday accused Ukraine of attempting to attack a state residence used by President Vladimir Putin, warning that Moscow's negotiating
position would change as a result. Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Russian President's residence in the Novgorod region on 28–29 December, according to Russia's Interfax news agency. Lavrov said 91 long-range drones were involved in what he described as an attempt to strike the residence. "Such reckless actions will not go unanswered," he was quoted as saying. It was not immediately clear whether President Putin was at the residence at the time of the alleged attack. Lavrov added that the targets had already been selected for retaliatory strikes by Russia's armed forces, adding that the attack took place during negotiations about a possible Ukrainian peace deal. However, he re-assured that while Russia would not leave the negotiations, Moscow's position will be reviewed.
However, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the allegations, saying Russia was laying the groundwork to attack Ukrainian government buildings in Kyiv.
"It is clear that we had a meeting with (US President Donald) Trump yesterday," Zelenskyy told reporters. "And it is clear that for the Russians, if there is no scandal between us and America, and we are making progress, for them it is a failure, because they do not want to end this war."
Putin has also informed Trump about the alleged drone attack in a call between the two leaders on Monday. During the call, Putin told the US President that Russia was reviewing its position on peace negotiations as a result, according to Russian state radio, citing a call with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Ushakov claimed that Trump was "shocked" and "outraged" by the report he received from Putin, Russian state radio reported.
On Sunday, Trump had said that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine are in their "final stages", after holding talks with Zelenskyy in Florida and speaking by phone with Putin. The US President met Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence, claiming that both sides were close to an agreement. Hours earlier, Trump said he had held a lengthy call with Putin and intended to speak to him again once discussions had progressed further.
"The two leaders want it to end," Trump had told reporters. "I think we can move pretty rapidly. Otherwise it's going to go on for a very long time."
