Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Drone Attack Claims, Peace Talks, and Political Reactions
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov claimed that Kyiv launched a drone attack on President Putin's state residence in the Novgorod region, reporting that 91 drones were destroyed and warning of potential retaliation. Ukraine rejected these claims as lies, stating that it targets legitimate military sites and emphasizing that the peace process should not be derailed by such provocations.
Former US President Donald Trump expressed anger over the alleged strike, acknowledging it could be false according to the Russian version, but said Putin told him the attack happened. Trump reiterated US opposition to providing long-range missiles to Ukraine and described the situation as delicate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted territorial disputes as the main obstacle to peace, noting that a 20-point peace plan is 90% ready. He stated that US-Ukraine security guarantees are fully agreed upon and that guarantees between the US, Europe, and Ukraine are nearly finalized. Zelenskyy proposed extending these guarantees to 30, 40, or 50 years, viewing the presence of international troops as necessary for real security guarantees. Ukraine had initially sought a 50-year guarantee, while Trump offered 15 years, with the US open to considering 30 to 50 years.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned Russia’s claims as fabrications designed to justify further attacks and disrupt peace negotiations. He called for condemnation of provocative Russian statements and reiterated Ukraine’s position of targeting legitimate military facilities.
The White House reported a positive phone call between Trump and Putin following talks in Florida. Zelenskyy also identified the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and territorial disputes as critical and thorny issues in ongoing negotiations.
