President Volodymyr Zelensky has called out ‘Russia’s lies’ after one of its ministers accused Ukraine of attacking President Vladimir Putin’s residence.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine used 91 long-range drones to launch an attack on Putin’s residence in the northwestern Novgorod region, which Zelensky has denied.
Russia’s own statistics show that they intercepted around 40 drones attacking Putin’s oblast on Monday.
Donald Trump, who is trying to broker a peace deal, told reporters: ‘I don’t like it. It’s not good.
‘I heard about it this morning. You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it early in the morning. He said he was attacked.
‘Don’t forget I stopped the Tomahawks I didn’t want that. This is a delicate period of time. It’s one thing to be offensive, it’s another thing to attack his house.
‘I learned about it from President Putin. I was very angry about it.’
Asked if there was any evidence of a strike, he replied: ‘Well, we will find out. You are saying the attack didn’t take place maybe that is possible, I guess. But President Putin told me this morning it did.’
The claim came a day after US President Donald Trump hosted Zelensky in Florida on Sunday, in which Trump insisted that Ukraine and Russia are ‘closer than ever before’ to a peace settlement.
Trump said he had a ‘positive call’ with Putin on Monday about the war, White House press secretary Karolive Leavitt said in a post on X.
However, it was during that call when Russia said Ukraine had launched an attack on Putin’s residence, which Zelensky described as ‘another lie’.
The claims could put the US and Ukraine’s peace settlement into doubt after Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said the attack ‘certainly will not be left without a serious response.’
He added that Moscow will now review its negotiating position.
Zelensky said Russia had fabricated the claim.
In a post on X, he wrote: ‘Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with President Trump’s team.
‘We keep working together to bring peace closer. 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. 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.’
Trump said he would consider offering Ukraine security guarantees for a period of 15 years as part of a proposed peace plan, according to Zelensky.
However, the Ukrainian president said he would like to seek an American commitment of up to 50 years to further deter Russia’s attempts to seize neighbouring land by force.
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