Kathrine Frich
Russian officials have accused Ukraine of attempting to undermine peace negotiations.
This time Moscow accused Ukraine of a drone attack near one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences. Kyiv has rejected the claim.
Foreign backing behind alleged attack
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Moscow sees British involvement in what he described as recent Ukrainian “provocations” linked to an alleged attempt to strike a residence used by President Vladimir Putin in the Novgorod region.
According to Grushko, the actions were intended to disrupt negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which he said had entered a “delicate stage of searching for solutions.”
His comments were reported by EFE and Reuters.
Russia will revise negotiation stance
Earlier on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would reassess its position in talks focused on resolving the conflict following the alleged incident.
“We do not intend to withdraw from the negotiation process with the US. However, given the final degeneration of the criminal regime in Kiev, which has turned towards a policy of state terrorism, Russia’s negotiating positions will be revised,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov claimed that Ukraine launched 91 long range drones toward the residence overnight, adding that Russian air defenses intercepted all of them.
He said Russia had already identified targets for potential retaliatory strikes.
Kremlin says Trump was informed
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Russian president informed US President Donald Trump about the alleged attack during a phone call on Monday.
The conversation took place a day after Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida, where the two discussed a counter proposal to a peace plan initially put forward by the US last month.
President Volodymyr Zelensky denied that Ukraine had attempted to strike Putin’s residence, calling the accusation a fabrication designed to derail diplomacy.
Zelensky said Russia was using the claim to justify further attacks on Ukrainian government targets and urged the United States to respond to what he described as Russian threats.
Sources: Reuters, EFE, Agerpres, Hotnews.
