Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russia intends to adopt a tougher negotiating stance following an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Vladimir Putin's state residence, reports Russian propaganda agency TASS.
Peskov declined to explain what the change in negotiating position would entail. "Of course, just as [with] the negotiating position before, we are not going to do this publicly," the Russian leader's spokesman said.
He added that Russia will continue the negotiation process regarding Ukraine but will conduct dialogue primarily with the United States.
According to Peskov, the attack on Putin's residence in Novgorod Oblast was directed "not only personally against" the Russian leader but also against US President Donald Trump. "Such provocations, such acts of state terrorism cannot shake this level of trust-based dialogue between the two presidents," he stated.
The Kremlin also reported that Russian military forces "know how, with what and when to respond" to this supposed attack.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that on the night of 29 December, Putin's residence in Novgorod Oblast was allegedly attacked by 91 Ukrainian drones. He added that Moscow would revise its negotiating position following this.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied this information. He explained that the Kremlin remained dissatisfied with progress in negotiations between Ukraine and the US and is seeking reasons to continue the war. Zelenskyy also suggested that the Russian statement is a pretext for a new strike on the Ukrainian capital, targeting government buildings in particular.
US President Donald Trump said Putin told him about the alleged attack on his residence during a phone conversation. He added that "this is not good."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Russia has provided no facts about the alleged drone attack on Putin's Valdai residence because the information is fake, and the spread of such disinformation is part of Russian propaganda.
"Almost a day passed and Russia still hasn’t provided any plausible evidence to its accusations of Ukraine’s alleged “attack on Putin’s residence.” And they won’t. Because there’s none. No such attack happened," Sybiha wrote.
The head of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said the ministry was "disappointed and concerned" by statements from Emirati, Indian and Pakistani officials who "expressed their concern about an attack that never happened." Sybiha noted that none of these three states published official statements when a real Russian missile struck a Ukrainian government building on 7 September.
He emphasized that Russia has a long list of false statements, as this is "their signature style." As an example, he recalled Moscow's claims in early 2022 that it would not attack Ukraine.
Sybiha called on all states to act responsibly and refrain from responding to unverified accusations, as "this undermines the constructive peace process that has been moving forward recently."
"They also often accuse others of what they themselves plan to do. Their words should never be taken at face value," the minister added.
Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Russia is attempting to sabotage the agreements reached at Mar-a-Lago between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy by spreading false claims about a Ukrainian attack on Vladimir Putin's residence.
The Lithuanian foreign ministry released a statement on X calling the Russian allegations a false flag operation designed to justify potential strikes against Ukraine.
"Kremlin's latest false flag operation to justify possible strikes against Ukraine - nothing new. We recall the botched 'drone attack' on the Kremlin (03.05.2023). Putin not only plans a massive assault on Kyiv, he aims to sabotage the achievements agreed at Mar-a-Lago yesterday," the ministry wrote.
