Russia says Ukraine attacked Putin’s home, Kyiv calls this a ‘lie’

Summary

• Russia accused Ukraine of launching 91 drones at Putin's residence, calling it a "state terrorism" act and threatening to reconsider negotiating positions.
• Ukraine's Zelensky dismissed the accusation as a "lie" to undermine peace efforts with the US and suggested Russia plans to intensify its attacks.
• Despite progress on security guarantees, territorial disputes and Russia's annexation goals remain unresolved, hindering a peace agreement.

KYIV – Russia accused Ukraine on Dec 29 of having fired dozens of drones at one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, an accusation that Ukraine called a “lie” aimed at undermining US-led efforts to end the war.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who does not typically announce drone strikes, said Ukraine had fired “91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles” at the Russian leader’s home in the Novgorod region between late on Dec 28 and early on Dec 29, all of which were shot down.

“Given the complete degeneration of the criminal Kyiv regime, which has shifted to a policy of state terrorism, Russia’s negotiating position will be reconsidered,” Mr Lavrov said, without elaborating or providing evidence for Russia’s assertions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia’s claim “a complete fabrication” designed to undermine the peace process, but US President Donald Trump – who held a call with Mr Putin earlier on Dec 29 – directed his criticism at Kyiv.

“I don’t like it. It’s not good,” Mr Trump told reporters of the alleged attack at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

“You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it.”

“It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time,” Mr Trump added.

Russia’s accusation comes at a pivotal moment in the peace process.

Ukraine says it has agreed to 90 per cent of a US-drafted peace plan – including the issue of post-war security guarantees.

But the issue of territory remains unresolved, and Russia – which has been advancing on the battlefield for months – has repeatedly rejected plans that do not yield to its maximalist demands.

In his call with Mr Trump on Dec 29, Mr Putin said he was still committed to the peace process but would “revise” Russia’s negotiating position in light of the alleged drone attack, according to the Kremlin.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, describing it as a “special military operation” to demilitarise the country and prevent the expansion of NATO.

Kyiv and its European allies say the war, the largest and deadliest on European soil since World War II, is an unprovoked and illegal land grab that has resulted in a tidal wave of violence and destruction.

Territory main sticking point

Mr Trump said a peace deal was “very close” following talks with Mr Zelensky on Dec 28.

Mr Zelensky announced on Dec 29 the US had finally promised security guarantees
in a post-war settlement – albeit for 15 years, with the possibility of an extension.

But the key issue of territory and the future of the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
in southern Ukraine remains unresolved.

Mr Putin has been pushing for full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region as part of a post-war settlement and said on Dec 29 that his army still aimed to take it and three other Ukrainian regions Moscow claims as its own by force.

In Kyiv, where residents have been living under relentless Russian attacks for almost four years, few were hopeful of a breakthrough.

“Security guarantees have already been signed before – and what did that give us? Absolutely nothing,” photographer Anastasiia Pashchenko told AFP.

In Moscow, where criticism of Russia’s invasion is banned, residents told AFP they wanted the fighting to end, but on the Kremlin’s terms.

“Only Russia can put forward some conditions,” said 53-year-old engineer Alexei.

Nikita, a 23-year-old who fought in Ukraine for a year, lauded Russia’s advance in eastern Ukraine, even if it came “at a cost”.

“Russia is a superpower that still needs to be reckoned with,” he said. AFP