FALSE FLAG AKA BULLSHIT
Lavrov threatens Ukraine after alleged drone attack on Putin's residence
Russia's foreign minister said Moscow's negotiating position would change following alleged strikes on Putin's Novgorod region residence overnight on Monday. Zelenskyy dismissed the claim as an effort by the Kremlin to derail progress with Washington.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Moscow's negotiating stance would shift following an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's dacha in the Novgorod region.
"Such reckless actions will not go unanswered," Lavrov told Interfax news agency, accusing Ukraine of launching 91 long-range drones targeting the presidential state residence, also known as Valdai, overnight on Monday.
Lavrov did not clarify whether Putin was present at the residence during the alleged attack.
Russian foreign minister's figures contradict the official report from the Russian Defence Ministry, which claims that its forces took down a total of 89 Ukrainian drones overnight on Monday, 18 of which in the Novgorod region.
Euronews could not independently verify these claims.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shot back at Moscow's claims, calling it "another lie from the Russian Federation".
"It is clear that yesterday we had a meeting with (US President Donald) Trump, and it is clear that for the Russians, if there is no scandal between us and America, and we are making progress, for them it is a failure," Zelenskyy stated in a conversation with journalists on Monday afternoon.
"They do not want to end this war, they are only capable of ending it through pressure on them. Well, I am sure they were looking for reasons," he added.
Zelenskyy also warned that the Russian foreign minister's claim could be an overture for further strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine, including key government buildings in Kyiv.
"Everyone must be vigilant now. Absolutely everyone. A strike may be launched on the capital, especially since this individual, if one can call him that, said that they would select appropriate targets, which is a threat," he said.
Earlier on Monday, the Ukrainian leader said that Washington's 15-year security guarantees were one of the results of his meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago the day before, as US-led negotiations continue to aim at ending Russia's all-out war against Ukraine, now nearing its four-year mark.
Following Lavrov's words, Zelenskyy reiterated that "today, in principle, President Trump and his team (and) Europeans, I believe, need to get involved and work with the people who, just yesterday, said that they really want to end the war."
Ukraine and its allies have accused Moscow of intentionally stalling on any ceasefire or peace agreements, while the Kremlin repeated its maximalist demands as a prerequisite for talks to progress.
Meanwhile, the US president "concluded a positive call with President Putin regarding Ukraine," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a brief post on X on Monday evening, without disclosing further details.
The Kremlin said Putin informed Trump of the alleged Ukrainian attack during the call and that this led to Moscow's change in its position in the negotiations as announced by Lavrov, Russian state-run media reported.
Asked about the alleged attack later on Monday, Trump — who spoke to the press in Florida together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — said, "I don't like it, it's not good."
"It's a delicate period of time, it's not the right time. It's one thing to be offensive ... it's another thing to attack his house," the US president added. "I was very angry about it."
Quizzed on whether Washington had any intelligence to corroborate Moscow's claims, Trump said, "Well, we'll find out. You're saying maybe the attack didn't happen, it's possible too, I guess."
"But President Putin told me this morning it did."
After the meeting with Zelenskyy on Sunday, Trump said “we will see in a few weeks” whether the peace plan would work out, without setting a deadline or signalling a timeline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's statements about an alleged drone attack on Vladimir Putin's Valdai residence as lies intended to justify strikes on Ukrainian government buildings, Ukrinform reported on December 29.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Ukraine attacked a state residence of the Russian president in the Novgorod region with drones overnight on December 29.
"A strike could be launched on the capital. Especially since this person, if you can call him that, said that they would select appropriate targets. Well, that is, they are threatening," Zelenskiy told journalists.
The president stated he expected such rhetoric from the Russians. "You see, they are going further. Now, with their statement that some of their residences were attacked, they are simply preparing the ground for strikes on the capital and, most likely, on government buildings," Zelenskiy stated.
He recalled that in September there was already a strike on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine building. "Therefore, everyone must be vigilant now, absolutely everyone," the head of state noted.
Regarding the substance of the statement, Zelenskiy described it as "another lie by the Russian Federation". Yesterday's successful negotiations with Donald Trump represent a failure for the Russians, he stated.
Lavrov claimed Ukraine attacked a state residence of the Russian president in Novgorod region with 91 drones overnight on December 29. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Trump "was shocked and literally outraged" by the alleged attack during a telephone conversation with Putin.
The Kremlin claims came hours after Trump hailed progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine after almost four years of conflict.
Zelenskiy's comments follow that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned US President Donald Trump that Moscow will respond to an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on a presidential residence in the Novgorod region, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated on December 29.
"From our side, it was clearly stated that such reckless terrorist actions will naturally not remain without the most serious response," Ushakov stated, according to Vedomosti.
Trump had hailed progress in peace talks hours before the Kremlin announced the alleged drone attack. The claims could not be independently verified.
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