Key Takeaways
- Russia claims Ukraine launched a drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, which Ukraine denies
- The alleged attack has led Russia to review its position in peace negotiations with Ukraine
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of trying to derail peace talks with "typical Russian lies"
- The US has offered Ukraine security guarantees for 15 years as part of a revised peace plan to end the war
- The future of Ukraine’s contested Donbas region remains a major point of contention in the peace talks
Introduction to the Conflict
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has taken a new turn, with Russia claiming that Ukraine launched a drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences. According to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were launched at Putin’s state residence in the northwestern Novgorod region. However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied the allegations, calling them "typical Russian lies" intended to give the Kremlin an excuse to continue attacks on Ukraine.
Denial and Accusations
Zelensky has dismissed the claim, stating that Russia had previously targeted government buildings in Kyiv. He also emphasized the importance of the international community not staying silent on the matter, saying "It is critical that the world doesn’t stay silent now. We cannot allow Russia to undermine the work on achieving a lasting peace." On the other hand, Lavrov claimed that all 91 drones were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defence systems, with no reports of casualties or damage. He also stated that Russia’s negotiating position would be revised due to the "final degeneration of the criminal Kyiv regime, which has switched to a policy of state terrorism."
Peace Talks and Negotiations
The claim by Moscow comes after talks between the US and Ukraine in Florida, where Presidents Trump and Zelensky discussed a revised peace plan to end the war. Zelensky said the US had offered Ukraine security guarantees for 15 years, and Trump said an agreement on this point was "close to 95%" done. However, territorial issues and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remain unresolved, and there is little sign of progress on the future of Ukraine’s contested Donbas region. Russia currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighboring Luhansk, and has previously rejected key parts of the plan under discussion.
International Reaction
The White House said on Monday that President Trump had "concluded a positive call" with Putin, following the US-Ukraine talks. During the call, Putin reportedly pointed out the alleged attack on his residence happened "almost straight after what the US had considered to be a successful round of talks." Trump initially appeared to say he did not know about the alleged incident, but later told reporters that he was told about it by Putin and was "very angry" about it. When asked if the US had seen any evidence supporting Russia’s claim, he responded: "Well we’ll find out. You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place – that’s possible too, I guess. But President Putin told me this morning it did."
Implications and Future Developments
The alleged attack and subsequent denial have significant implications for the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Russia’s decision to review its position in the negotiations could potentially derail the entire process, and the US’s response to the situation will be closely watched. The future of the Donbas region remains a major point of contention, and it is unclear how the US’s offer of security guarantees will affect the negotiations. As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is far from over, and the international community will be watching closely to see how the situation develops.