The Russia-Ukraine peace talks to end the war in Ukraine weakened on Monday after Russia accused Kyiv of attempting to target the residence of President Vladimir Putin in northern Russia. Ukrainian officials rejected the allegation, calling it unfounded and intended to derail ongoing peace efforts.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones on December 28 and 29 toward Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, west of Moscow. He said Russian air defences intercepted all the drones and confirmed that no damage occurred.
Lavrov described the alleged operation as “state terrorism” and warned that Russian forces had already identified potential targets for retaliation. He did not provide evidence to support the claim, and officials did not disclose whether Putin was present at the residence at the time.
Kyiv swiftly denied the accusation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow fabricated the story to justify future attacks and to undermine diplomatic momentum with the United States. “Another round of lies from the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy said in a public message. He added that Russia seeks to create tension whenever dialogue between Kyiv and Washington shows signs of progress.
Russia accused Ukraine of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia, although it provided no evidence to back up an assertion that Kyiv dismissed as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations https://t.co/oaIVguRLIC pic.twitter.com/6sfaqet1FG
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 29, 2025Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged international leaders to reject Russia’s claims and prevent further escalation based on unverified accusations. The allegation surfaced alongside renewed diplomatic engagement. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump met Zelenskyy in Florida and said negotiators were “getting a lot closer” to a possible agreement, while acknowledging unresolved territorial disputes.
After a phone call with Vladimir Putin, Trump expressed concern over the reported incident. “It’s one thing to be offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house,” he said, adding that the timing complicated sensitive talks. He noted, however, that discussions with Putin remained constructive.
Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks
Negotiators continue to face major obstacles in a proposed peace framework. Key disputes include control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which Russian forces currently hold, and the future status of the Donbas region.
Russia occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. It also claims Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, all internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory. Moscow has demanded Ukrainian troop withdrawals from parts of Donetsk, while Kyiv insists any ceasefire should hold along existing front lines.
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy quickly denied a claim by Moscow that his country’s military launched a drone attack on Russian President Putin’s residence in the city of Novgorod.
The Ukrainian leader accused Russia of trying to derail peace talks. pic.twitter.com/DyFQkovXEr
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 29, 2025Despite diplomatic contacts, Putin adopted a defiant tone on Monday. He instructed military commanders to intensify operations in the Zaporizhzhia region, where Russian forces control roughly 75% of the territory.
Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky, who commands Russia’s Dnieper grouping, reported that troops had advanced to within 15 kilometres of the region’s largest city. Putin said Russian forces must continue their offensive in coordination with eastern units, signalling that military pressure will persist even as talks struggle to gain traction.
