‘Very angry’: Trump on alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Putin’s residence; Zelenskyy calls it ‘lies’
Russia on Monday claimed that Ukraine fired drones at Vladimir Putin’s residence between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Reuters reported citing foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov added that the Kremlin would “revise” its negotiating position on ending the Ukraine war after the “terrorist attack”. Lavrov further said that Russia had chosen targets in Ukraine for “retaliation strikes” and that Moscow’s “negotiating position will be revised”. As per the report, Lavrov said that Ukraine targeted the Russian president’s state residence in the Novgorod region on December 28–29, with 91 long-range drones, all of which were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defences.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the accusation as “lies”, saying Moscow was laying the groundwork for attacks on government buildings in Kyiv.“This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies. Furthermore, the Russians have already targeted Kyiv in the past, including the Cabinet of Ministers building,” he said.“Ukraine does not take steps that can undermine diplomacy. To the contrary, Russia always takes such steps. This is one of many differences between us. It is critical that the world doesn’t stay silent now. We cannot allow Russia to undermine the work on achieving a lasting peace,” he added.This comes after Putin claimed that Russia was making progress in its plans of “liberating the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions”.“The goal of liberating the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions is being carried out in stages, in accordance with the plan of the special military operation … The troops are confidently advancing,” AFP quoted Putin saying.Zelenskyy said that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and Putin’s messaging to the domestic audience contradicted the “peaceful rhetoric” he has used in conversations with US leader Donald Trump.“On the one hand, he tells the president of the United States that he wants to end the war and that this is his desire,” Zelenskyy said.“And on the other hand, he openly communicates in the media all his messages about being ready and wanting to continue the war — he strikes us with missiles, openly talks about it, celebrates the destruction of civilian infrastructure, gives instructions to his generals about where to advance and what to seize, and so on,” he added.‘Very angry’: Donald Trump on ‘drone attack’Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump criticised the alleged Ukrainian drone attack, saying he was informed by Putin during their conversation regarding Ukraine, which the White House described as a “positive” one.“President Trump has concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.“You know who told me about it? President Putin, early in the morning, he said he was attacked. It’s no good. I’m very angry,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, according to AFP.“It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time. It’s one thing to be offensive because they’re offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that,” he added.
