Russia has announced a hardening of its stance in Ukraine peace negotiations following an alleged drone attack targeting President Vladimir Putin's residence in the Novgorod Region, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed this week. The incident, which occurred overnight on December 29, has intensified diplomatic friction amid ongoing U.S.-mediated talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the allegations as "another lie from the Russian Federation," while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Kyiv deployed 91 long-range strike drones, all of which were reportedly intercepted. No casualties or damage were reported.
The development comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, where both leaders signaled progress toward a potential peace deal. However, Trump expressed shock over the alleged attack during a subsequent call with Putin, according to Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov.
Analysts suggest the escalation underscores fragile trust in multilateral negotiations, with Moscow emphasizing continued dialogue with Washington despite the tensions. The Kremlin maintains that Ukraine's actions aim to derail peace efforts, a claim Kyiv vehemently denies.
