Russia Alleges Drone Attack on Putin's Residence; Ukraine Denies Claim Ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting
Russia claims Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's presidential residence in the Novgorod region. Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted 91 long-range drones. The Russian defense ministry released footage of drone wreckage and described the payload as high-explosive. The Kremlin confirmed the site as a presidential residence in the Novgorod region but has not confirmed whether Putin was present during the alleged attack. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeled the incident a terrorist action and said it would harden Russia's negotiating position.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a 20-point peace plan that includes NATO-style security guarantees, a ceasefire along current lines, and demilitarized zones overseen by international forces. This plan counters the U.S. framework and rejects formal recognition of Russian-occupied territory. Zelenskyy also stated that Ukraine discussed the Russian allegation with U.S. officials and considers it fake, citing Ukraine's technical capabilities to verify the claim. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of presenting no evidence and using a familiar tactic of false claims.
The dispute comes ahead of a planned meeting between Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Trump said the U.S. is investigating the incident to determine what happened. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated it remains unclear whether the attack occurred and emphasized that investigators will thoroughly examine the intelligence.
