Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back Monday against claims by senior Kremlin officials that Kyiv attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence, calling the allegation a "complete fabrication."
Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to Putin, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, made the claims in separate statements published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official Telegram channel, alleging Ukraine carried out a drone attack on a Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod region of northwestern Russia.
"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," said Zelenskyy.
"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."
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Lavrov warned that Russia would retaliate in another statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official Telegram channel, saying "such reckless actions will not go unanswered."
"The targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their execution by the Russian Armed Forces have been determined. At the same time, we do not intend to withdraw from the negotiation process with the United States," he added.
The White House confirmed to Fox News on Monday that Trump spoke with Putin for the second time in two days, following the commander in chief’s Sunday meeting in Florida with Zelenskyy.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the call was "positive" and focused on discussions about the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago Monday afternoon that he learned about the reported drone strike during the phone call with Putin earlier in the day.
"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 and — can't do it. And I learned about it from President Putin, and I was very angry about it," he said.
Trump on Sunday touted his meeting with Zelenskyy and senior Ukrainian officials as productive as discussions continued over potential pathways toward ending Russia’s nearly four-year war against Ukraine.
"I really believe we're probably, Mr. President, closer than — by far — closer than ever before with both parties," Trump said at a joint press conference with the Ukrainian leader.
Trump said the thorniest unresolved issue remains land Russia wants but does not fully control, referring to territory in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, and suggested Kyiv would be better off making a deal sooner rather than later.
