Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed on Monday that there was an attempted attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northern Russia by Ukraine, leading Moscow to reconsider its negotiating stance. However, Ukraine refuted this accusation.
According to Russia, Ukraine launched an attack on the presidential residence in the Novgorod region using 91 long-range drones overnight, all of which were reportedly intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defenses. No casualties or damages were reported, Lavrov stated, condemning the action as “state terrorism.”
Lavrov emphasized that the attack occurred during peace negotiations with Ukraine and, although Russia will continue to participate in the talks, Moscow’s position will be reassessed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the allegations as false, suggesting that Moscow was laying the groundwork for potential strikes on government buildings in Kyiv.
The situation at the Dolgiye Borody residence, historically used by notable figures like Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, and Boris Yeltsin, remains unclear regarding Putin’s presence during the incident.
Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin foreign policy aide, mentioned that Putin had a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, where Trump was reportedly informed about the alleged Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian presidential residence in Novgorod.
Trump expressed his outrage over the incident and noted the productive nature of his conversation with Putin, highlighting ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine.
In related developments, Zelenskyy disclosed that the United States had proposed security guarantees for Ukraine lasting 15 years as part of a prospective peace initiative, with discussions ongoing to address critical issues such as military withdrawals and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
As negotiations progress, both sides are aiming for a resolution before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Putin asserted that Russian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine while emphasizing the creation of military buffer zones along the border for regional security.
In a televised meeting, Gen. Valery Gerasimov stated that Russian forces had gained control of significant territory in Ukraine in 2025. Plans for extending U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine beyond 15 years are being considered, subject to approval by relevant legislative bodies.
Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of a ceasefire for holding a national referendum on the proposed peace plan, a step crucial for progress in the negotiations.
