'They are looking for a pretext' — Zelensky denies drone attack on Putin's residence
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russia's claims that Ukrainian drones attempted to attack a state residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin as "another lie," warning that Moscow is using the allegation to justify potential strikes, "most likely on Kyiv."
"With this statement about an alleged attack on some residence, they are preparing the ground to strike, most likely the capital and government buildings. We've already seen this before, when they attacked the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine," Zelensky said while speaking to Ukrainian media on Dec. 29.
Zelensky said the statement was made amid progress in Ukraine's talks with the U.S. on a revised peace agreement framework, calling the timing deliberate.
"It's obvious that yesterday we had a meeting with President Trump, and it's clear that when there is no scandal for the Russians, when there is progress, it is a failure for them. They do not want to end this war and are only capable of doing so under pressure. So they are looking for a pretext," Zelensky added.
Earlier on Dec. 29, Russian independent media outlet Meduza reported, citing official statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, that Ukrainian drones had allegedly attempted to strike Putin's state residence with 91 drones in Russia's Novgorod Oblast overnight.
Lavrov said Russia would "revise its negotiating position" but would not withdraw from talks, accusing Kyiv of what he called "state terrorism" and warning that retaliation targets had already been identified.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine strikes only legitimate military targets on Russian territory in response to Russian attacks, stressing that Russia remains the aggressor, while Ukraine is acting in self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter.
"We call on the world to condemn Russia's provocative statements aimed at undermining a constructive peace process. Ukraine remains committed to peace efforts led by the United States with the involvement of European partners," Sybiha wrote on Telegram.
Sybiha also added that this year, Russia struck the Ukrainian government building. The headquarters of Ukraine's government was hit by a Russian Iskander missile overnight on Sept. 7 in Kyiv.
The claims came as Ukraine presented a draft agreement earlier on Dec. 29, outlining 15-year U.S. security guarantees as part of ongoing peace plan negotiations.
Zelensky said consultations on the documents are ongoing, with Ukrainian and American delegations expected to meet in January to finalize key points.
While peace negotiations are ongoing, Russia continues its daily attack on civilians in Ukraine. In Russia's latest, Dec. 27, mass attack on Kyiv at least 2 civilians were killed, 32 injured.
On Christmas day, Dec. 25, it attacked a market in Kherson and a residential building in Chernihiv, at killing at least two people, injuring 10 others.
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