On the night of December 29, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) attempted to attack the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin using drones. However, the Russian air defense system was able to detect and destroy 91 drones.
This attack occurred shortly after the United States reported positive progress in peace negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Donald Trump commented on the events, noting that the timing for such actions is not appropriate. He emphasized that he had previously refused to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles to avoid escalating the conflict. “I didn’t want that because this is a delicate period. It’s important to distinguish between an offensive and an attack on the enemy’s home. This is not the time for that,” he said.
Following reports of the alleged attack, Russian authorities stated that this could affect their negotiating position, creating new obstacles for the peace process in Ukraine, as noted by Reuters.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also condemned Ukraine’s actions, calling the attack on Putin’s residence “heinous.” The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its solidarity with the Russian government and condemned violence in all its forms.
In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Russia’s accusations regarding the attack on Putin’s residence, stating that Moscow is trying to undermine peace negotiations. He added that Russia had previously attacked government buildings in Kyiv.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that an attack was carried out using 91 drones on Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region. He added that all drones were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defense, and there is currently no information about casualties or damage.
Lavrov also noted that in light of Kyiv’s actions, Russia will reconsider its position in peace negotiations. Zelensky characterized Russia’s accusations as “typical lies” aimed at justifying further attacks on Ukraine. He emphasized that it is crucial for the international community not to remain indifferent to what is happening, in order to prevent Russia from undermining efforts to establish a lasting peace.
