Russia and Ukraine traded sharp accusations on Monday (Dec 29) after Moscow claimed that dozens of Ukrainian drones had targeted one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, a charge Kyiv dismissed as a deliberate fabrication aimed at sabotaging US-led efforts to negotiate an end to the nearly three-year war.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov alleged that Ukraine launched “91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles” at a residence used by Putin in the Novgorod region between late Sunday and early Monday. All of the drones were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defences, he said. Lavrov’s public statement was unusual, as Russian officials rarely disclose alleged drone attacks in such detail, particularly when they involve the president’s personal security.
“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,” Lavrov said, without specifying what changes Moscow might make or whether it would suspend its participation in ongoing peace talks.
Ukraine swiftly rejected the accusation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russia’s claim “a complete fabrication” designed to derail diplomatic momentum and create a pretext for escalating attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
“Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with President Trump’s team,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, referring to recent US-led negotiations. He suggested the allegation was part of a broader information campaign by the Kremlin to justify intensified bombardment and harden Russia’s negotiating stance.
The exchange came at a critical juncture in efforts to halt the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has since become the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, killing tens of thousands, displacing millions, and devastating large swathes of Ukraine.
Ukraine says it has agreed to roughly 90 per cent of a US-drafted peace plan following weeks of intensive talks with Washington. According to Kyiv, the plan includes provisions for post-war security guarantees designed to deter future Russian aggression. However, the most contentious issues — territorial control and the fate of occupied regions — remain unresolved.
Russia has not publicly outlined which elements of the US proposal it supports. On Monday, Moscow said it remained committed to the peace process but would “revise” its position in light of the alleged drone attack on Putin’s residence, injecting fresh uncertainty into negotiations.
Former US President Donald Trump, who has taken a central role in the mediation effort, has held talks with both sides in recent days. The White House described a phone call between Trump and Putin on Monday as “positive,” though it provided few details. During a meeting with Zelenskyy on Sunday, Trump reportedly offered Ukraine long-sought security guarantees lasting up to 15 years, a move Kyiv has welcomed as a potential cornerstone of any settlement.
Despite the diplomatic activity, major obstacles remain. Zelenskyy has said the issues of territory and the future of the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine are still unresolved. He reiterated on Monday that Ukraine was open to “any” format of talks, including a direct meeting with Putin if necessary, but expressed doubt that the Kremlin leader genuinely wanted peace.
The current draft plan would freeze the conflict roughly along existing frontlines in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region and establish a demilitarised zone. However, the Kremlin has shown little sign of compromise. Putin said Monday that Russian forces were continuing their offensive and remained committed to capturing four Ukrainian regions that Moscow announced it had annexed in 2022.
Russia’s defence ministry also claimed on Monday that its troops had taken another village, Dibrova, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, underscoring the continued intensity of fighting even as diplomatic efforts accelerate.
