President Vladimir Putin discussed with Donald Trump the need to reassess Russia’s approach to peace negotiations following what the Kremlin describes as a Ukrainian drone attack on a presidential residence. The conversation came shortly after Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov publicly accused Ukraine of launching 91 drones at Putin’s Novgorod estate.
Lavrov characterized the alleged December 28-29 incident as both reckless and terroristic, warning that Moscow would implement forceful countermeasures. He reported that Russian air defense systems successfully intercepted all incoming drones but emphasized that the attack attempt itself warranted significant retaliation. The Foreign Minister confirmed that Russian military planners had already compiled target lists for potential strike operations.
Ukrainian President Zelensky dismissed Russian allegations as complete fabrications, suggesting that Moscow was manufacturing justification for attacks on Ukrainian government buildings. He argued that Russia was deliberately attempting to sabotage diplomatic initiatives, particularly those involving coordination with Trump administration officials. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine’s actions consistently support peace processes rather than undermining them.
The alleged incident has introduced new complexity into already challenging diplomatic efforts. Lavrov indicated that while Russia remains willing to engage in negotiations, the supposed attack would necessitate a reassessment of Moscow’s position and expectations. He did not specify how Russia’s negotiating stance might change but made clear that the incident would have consequences.
Zelensky called on international leaders to recognize and counter Russian tactics, arguing that global silence enables Moscow to continue disrupting peace efforts through manufactured crises. He pointed to Russia’s history of attacking major Ukrainian government facilities as evidence that Moscow regularly commits the very actions it accuses Ukraine of undertaking. The Ukrainian president emphasized that preventing Russian manipulation of diplomatic processes requires sustained international attention and active engagement rather than passive observation of events.