Ukraine Denies Russia’s Claim of Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence Amid Peace Talks With Trump

KYIV / FLORIDA / MOSCOW — Tensions escalated this week in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war after Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of launching a drone strike on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region, an allegation that Kyiv has firmly rejected as fabricated and politically motivated. The dispute comes on the heels of high-level peace negotiations in Florida between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at ending nearly four years of conflict.

Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, claimed that as many as 91 long-range drones were used in what Moscow described as an attack on Putin’s presidential residence, asserting that Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed all of them overnight. Kremlin representatives told state media that this alleged incident would force Russia to reassess its negotiating stance and could prompt further retaliatory strikes against Ukraine.

Kyiv has flatly denied the accusation, calling it “typical Russian lies” designed to undermine diplomatic progress and derail peace efforts. In statements shared on social media, President Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials said there is no credible evidence that Ukraine carried out such an operation and accused Moscow of spreading disinformation to justify continued military actions and harden its negotiating posture.

The alleged drone incident was disclosed just days after Zelenskyy and Trump held a nearly three-hour meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where both leaders said they had made “significant progress” toward a peace framework that includes security guarantees for Ukraine and a roadmap to cease hostilities. Trump also reported a “very productive” phone call with Putin shortly before the Florida talks as part of efforts to keep diplomatic channels open.

However, the Kremlin’s claim — without independent verification — has heightened uncertainty around the peace process. Western analysts and Ukraine’s partners have urged caution in interpreting unverified reporhttps://voxenews.com/israel-to-suspend-doctors-without-borders-and-other-humanitarian-groups-in-gaza-in-2026/ts, noting that false or exaggerated claims can intensify mistrust and complicate negotiations at a delicate moment.

For its part, Russia continues its military campaign across multiple fronts, with recent drone and missile strikes reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions, resulting in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. Ukrainian leaders say they remain committed to diplomatic resolution but emphasize that peace cannot come at the cost of territorial sovereignty.

As global powers watch closely, both Kyiv and Washington have reiterated support for continued dialogue and pressure on Moscow to reach an agreement, even as accusations and counter-accusations cloud the path to peace.