9 Explosive Developments as Zelenskyy Calls Putin Drone Claim a Lie

9 Explosive Developments as Zelenskyy Calls Putin Drone Claim a Lie to justify new strikes. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly rejected Russia’s claim that Ukrainian forces attempted to attack a residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin with drones, calling the allegation a deliberate fabrication designed to justify new Russian strikes and undermine fragile diplomatic efforts to end the war.

The sharp exchange came just a day after US President Donald Trump met Zelenskyy in Florida and publicly said Ukraine and Russia were “closer than ever before” to a potential peace agreement. Within hours, Moscow accused Kyiv of launching a swarm of long-range drones at Putin’s residence, a claim Ukraine dismissed as false.

Trump, who spoke with Putin twice within 24 hours, said he was “very angry” after hearing the allegation from the Russian leader but conceded the claim could turn out to be untrue.

The episode has injected new tension into already delicate negotiations, raising fears of escalation at a time when both sides say a breakthrough could be near.

9 Explosive Developments as Zelenskyy Calls Putin Drone Claim a Lie

Russia Alleges Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence

Russia’s accusation was first made public by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who claimed that Ukraine attempted to strike one of President Putin’s residences in the Novgorod region, west of Moscow, late on December 28 and 29.

According to Lavrov, 91 long-range drones were launched in the alleged attack and were all intercepted by Russian air defence systems. He said there were no casualties and no damage, and did not clarify whether Putin was present at the residence at the time.

Lavrov described the alleged incident as “state terrorism” and warned that Russia’s response would not go unanswered. He added that Moscow was reviewing its negotiating position on ending the war in Ukraine in light of what it called a reckless provocation.

Russian officials later suggested that targets for potential retaliatory strikes had already been selected.

Zelenskyy: ‘Another Lie from the Russian Federation’

President Zelenskyy swiftly rejected Moscow’s claim, calling it “another lie” intended to prepare the ground for new Russian attacks on Kyiv.

“Another lie from the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy told journalists, according to AFP. “They’re simply preparing the ground to carry out strikes, probably on the capital and probably on government buildings.”

In a series of statements and posts on X, Zelenskyy accused Russia of using dangerous falsehoods to derail diplomatic progress made during talks with the United States.

“Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts,” he wrote, adding that Ukraine does not take steps that would sabotage negotiations.

He warned that Ukrainians needed to remain alert, saying Moscow’s rhetoric often precedes large-scale missile or drone strikes.

Ukraine Says Claim Aimed at Justifying Fresh Attacks

Ukrainian officials echoed Zelenskyy’s assessment, arguing that the allegation was a fabrication designed to create a pretext for renewed Russian aggression.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that the claim was intended “to create a pretext and false justification for Russia’s further attacks against Ukraine, as well as to undermine and impede the peace process.”

Sybiha stressed that Ukraine strikes only legitimate military targets and does not engage in actions that would sabotage diplomatic efforts.

Kyiv urged international partners not to remain silent, warning that unchallenged disinformation could embolden Moscow to escalate military operations.

Trump Says He Is ‘Very Angry’ After Speaking to Putin

Reacting to the allegation, US President Donald Trump said Putin informed him of the alleged drone attack during an early-morning phone call on Monday.

“You know who told me about it? President Putin, early in the morning, he said he was attacked. It’s no good. I’m very angry,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Trump criticised the alleged targeting of a leader’s residence, saying it was unacceptable, particularly at a sensitive moment in negotiations.

“It’s one thing to be offensive because they’re offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that,” he said.

However, Trump also acknowledged that the claim could turn out to be false.

“You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place? That’s possible too, I guess,” he said. “But President Putin told me this morning it did.”

Trump Speaks to Putin Twice in 24 Hours

The US president confirmed that he had spoken with Putin twice within 24 hours, a day after holding talks with Zelenskyy in Florida.

Despite the controversy, Trump described his conversation with the Russian leader as constructive.

“It was a very productive talk,” Trump said. “We have a few very thorny issues, as you can imagine. But if we get them resolved, you can have peace.”

The White House later described the call as “positive,” with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying Trump had concluded a constructive conversation with Putin on Ukraine.

Meeting with Zelenskyy Fuels Hope of Breakthrough

The diplomatic flare-up followed Trump’s high-profile meeting with Zelenskyy in Florida, where both leaders expressed optimism that an agreement to end the war could be close.

After the meeting, Trump said Ukraine and Russia were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to a peace deal, though he acknowledged that negotiations remained complex and could still collapse.

Zelenskyy said a 20-point peace plan was about 90 percent agreed, with US-Ukraine security guarantees fully outlined, though key territorial issues remained unresolved.

Russia Says It Will ‘Review’ Negotiating Position

Following the alleged drone incident, Russian officials said Moscow would reassess its negotiating stance.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said Putin told Trump that Russia was reviewing its position on talks as a result of the reported attack.

Lavrov stressed that Russia was not quitting negotiations altogether but suggested that Kyiv’s alleged actions had complicated the process.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, warned that Moscow’s response “would not be diplomatic.”

Territorial Disputes Remain Major Obstacle

Despite talk of progress, major sticking points remain, particularly over territory.

Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, as well as large parts of the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

Moscow has demanded that Ukraine withdraw troops from areas Russia claims as its own, including parts of eastern Ukraine it has failed to fully occupy.

Kyiv, by contrast, wants fighting halted along current front lines and has rejected any permanent loss of territory without public consent.

Putin Strikes Defiant Tone on the Battlefield

Even as diplomatic contacts intensified, Putin struck a defiant tone on Monday, telling his generals to press on with efforts to secure full control of the Zaporizhzhia region.

Russia controls around 75 percent of the region, and Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky told Putin that Russian forces were within 15 kilometres of the regional capital.

“In the near future, it is necessary to continue the offensive,” Putin responded, signalling no immediate pause in military operations.

Fighting Continues Across Multiple Fronts

While leaders traded accusations and held phone calls, fighting continued across Ukraine.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian guided aerial bombs struck the city of Orikhiv, killing one civilian and injuring another, according to regional officials.

In Kharkiv, shelling injured several civilians in villages near the front line, while Ukraine’s General Staff reported 89 combat engagements along the front since the start of the day.

Russia claimed advances or improved positions in multiple regions, including Sumy, Donetsk, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk.

International Reaction and Calls for Restraint

Ukraine urged international partners to condemn what it described as provocative Russian statements aimed at derailing peace efforts.

Zelenskyy said the world’s intelligence agencies would have accurate information about whether such an attack occurred, calling on allies to rely on verified data rather than Kremlin claims.

The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, issued a statement condemning what it said was an attempt to target Putin’s residence, affirming solidarity with Russia — a move that highlighted divisions in international responses.

Peace Hopes Under Pressure

The alleged drone attack claim has dealt a fresh blow to already fragile hopes for peace.

Although Trump and Zelenskyy both expressed optimism following their meeting, the episode underscored how quickly diplomacy can be derailed by unverified allegations and hard-line rhetoric.

Zelenskyy has said that the remaining unresolved issues — including the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the status of Donbas — would require difficult compromises or public referendums.

Trump has said European countries would need to shoulder a significant share of future security responsibilities, with US backing.

A Critical Moment for Diplomacy

As the war approaches its fourth year, the exchange over the alleged drone attack highlights the precarious balance between diplomacy and escalation.

For Kyiv, the claim represents a familiar pattern of disinformation preceding renewed attacks. For Moscow, it is a warning that negotiations cannot proceed without what it calls security assurances.

For Trump, who has positioned himself as a potential broker of peace, the incident tests his ability to navigate conflicting narratives while keeping both sides at the table.

Whether the talks survive this latest controversy may determine whether the conflict moves closer to resolution — or slides back toward deeper confrontation.

Also Read: Trump Says Putin Won’t Meet Zelenskyy ‘Because He Doesn’t Like Him,’ Warning of Consequences if Negotiations Fail

Also Read: Russia’s claim Ukraine attacked Putin’s home ‘doesn’t make any sense’, experts say