Peace hopes dented as Russia says Ukraine tried to attack Putin residence

Russia accused Ukraine on Monday, December 29, of attempting to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northern Russia, although Moscow provided no evidence to support the claim. Kyiv dismissed the accusation as baseless and aimed at undermining ongoing peace negotiations.

The sharp exchanges, including Russia’s statement that it would review its position in talks following the alleged attack, dealt a new blow to prospects for peace in Ukraine.

On Sunday, December 28, U.S. President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Florida and said the two countries were "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to an agreement to end the war, though significant territorial issues remained unresolved.

Satellite images taken in 2023 show Putin’s residence in northern Russia, which Moscow claims Ukraine attempted to target. Following the alleged incident, Putin told Trump that Russia would reassess its stance in peace negotiations after what Moscow described as a Ukrainian drone attack on the presidential residence, according to the Kremlin.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin and Trump spoke on Monday, with Trump briefing the Russian leader on U.S. negotiations with Ukraine.

"Vladimir Putin drew the attention of his counterpart, Donald Trump, to the fact that almost immediately after what the American side considered a successful round of negotiations at Mar-a-Lago, the Kyiv regime launched a terrorist attack using long-range drones on the Russian president's state residence in the Novgorod region. We have clearly stated that such reckless terrorist actions will not go unanswered," Ushakov said.

He added that Trump was "literally outraged" by the news and said such actions would affect the U.S. approach to working with Zelenskiy.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said on Monday that Ukraine had tried to attack Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, prompting Moscow to review its negotiating position. He claimed that Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones on December 28–29, all of which were destroyed by Russian air defenses.

Lavrov said, "On the night of December 28–29, 2025, the Kyiv regime launched a terrorist attack using 91 long-range strike unmanned aerial vehicles on the state residence of the President of the Russian Federation in the Novgorod region. All UAVs were destroyed by the Russian Armed Forces’ air defense systems. There were no reports of casualties or damage from UAV debris. This attack occurred during intensive negotiations between Russia and the United States to resolve the Ukrainian conflict."

He added, "Such reckless actions will not go unanswered. The targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their execution have been determined. At the same time, we do not intend to withdraw from the negotiating process with the United States. However, given the complete degeneration of the criminal Kyiv regime, which has shifted to a policy of state terrorism, Russia's negotiating position will be reconsidered."

In response, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy called the accusation "yet another lie" and suggested that Russia was preparing the ground to strike government buildings in Kyiv. He said Moscow’s claim was meant to undermine peace talks.

"This is yet another lie from the Russian Federation. It is clear that yesterday we had a meeting with Trump. For the Russians, if there is no scandal with America, and we make progress, it is seen as a failure," Zelenskiy said. "Now, with their statement about an attack on their residences, they are preparing, I am sure, the ground for striking the capital and possibly state buildings. We have already seen this in September with the missile strike on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine."

Putin also announced on Monday that Russia would continue offensive operations to gain full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region and the city of Zaporizhzhia. His meeting with top military commanders was televised in Russia ahead of expected phone talks with Trump.

"The enemy's attempts to disrupt developments in Kupiansk must be decisively stopped. I know that you are taking all necessary measures for it," Putin said. "Of course, we must continue the advance, along with the East group, to liberate Zaporizhzhia."

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military released drone footage on Monday showing the eastern city of Pokrovsk blanketed in snow as fighting continued. Reuters confirmed the location by matching buildings, railways, and roads with satellite imagery. The date of the video could not be independently verified.

In Vyshhorod, just north of Kyiv, residents have been without electricity for three days following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.

Zelenskiy said on Monday that a draft peace framework to end the war envisages U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine for 15 years. Speaking via WhatsApp to reporters, he added that he had requested guarantees for up to 50 years.

"We confirmed with the President of the United States that we will have security guarantees from the United States. Currently, these guarantees are for 15 years, with the possibility of extension," Zelenskiy said. "I told him that we are already at war, and it has been almost 15 years. That is why I wanted the guarantees to be longer—30, 40, 50 years. The President said he would consider it."

-Production: Paul Warren/Reuters