Russia and Ukraine traded sharp accusations Monday after Moscow claimed Kyiv attempted to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northern Russia, an allegation Ukraine flatly denied but one that drew an angry reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump amid ongoing peace negotiations.
The Kremlin said Ukraine launched an overnight drone attack targeting Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, deploying 91 long-range drones. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said all of the drones were intercepted by air defenses and that there were no injuries or damage. Still, he said the alleged incident was serious enough to force Moscow to reassess its negotiating position in talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
“Such reckless actions will not go unanswered,” Lavrov said, adding that “the targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their implementation by the Russian armed forces have been determined.”
Ukraine strongly rejected the accusation. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s claims were “a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine” and to undermine diplomatic efforts. In a post on the social platform X, Zelensky warned that Moscow could use the alleged incident as a pretext for renewed strikes, including against government buildings in Kyiv.
“Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with President Trump’s team,” Zelensky wrote. “We keep working together to bring peace closer.”
Despite Kyiv’s denial, Trump appeared to side with Moscow later Monday, saying he had spoken directly with Putin and expressing anger over the reported attack. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said he learned of the incident from the Russian president himself.
“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,” Trump said. “Early in the morning he said he was attacked. That’s no good, it’s no good.”
Trump stressed the sensitivity of the moment, suggesting that even if Russia remains on the offensive in the war, targeting Putin’s residence would cross a line during delicate negotiations. “It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time,” he said. “It’s one thing to be offensive, because [Russia is] offensive, it’s another thing to attack [Putin’s] house. It’s not the right time to do any of that. … I was very angry about it.”
When asked whether there was evidence the attack had actually occurred, Trump acknowledged uncertainty. “Well, we’ll find out,” he said. “You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place? That’s possible, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning.”
The White House later confirmed the call between Trump and Putin. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that Trump had “concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine.”
The dispute comes at a critical juncture in diplomatic efforts to end the war. Just a day earlier, Trump and Zelensky met for three hours at Mar-a-Lago, afterward saying they were “very close” to an agreement and “90 percent” of the way there. Trump said “one or two very thorny issues” remain, while Zelensky confirmed that unresolved territorial questions continue to be the main obstacle.
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