The Kremlin has issued a stark threat to abandon ongoing peace negotiations, following accusations that Ukraine attempted to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin in a drone attack on one of his official residences.
Accusations of 'State Terrorism' and a Dramatic Diplomatic Twist
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Moscow's negotiating stance would now change as a direct result of the alleged incident. He branded the purported strike as an act of 'state terrorism' and warned that Russia was already selecting targets for retaliatory action. According to Lavrov, Russian air defences destroyed 91 Ukrainian drones that targeted the Valdai mansion in Novgorod province on Sunday night, though he did not confirm if President Putin was present at the time.
This dramatic development preceded an hour-long phone call between President Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump. A White House spokesman characterised the conversation as 'positive', but President Trump later expressed his anger to reporters. 'It's one thing to be offensive. It's another thing to attack his house,' Trump stated, adding he learned of the incident directly from Putin. However, he later conceded it was 'possible' the attack did not occur.
Kyiv's Denial and Zelensky's Plea for US Support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly denied any involvement, labelling the Kremlin's claims as 'another round of lies' and a 'false flag' operation designed to sabotage the peace process. He suggested a panicked Russia was trying to undermine the talks.
In a separate interview on Fox News, President Zelensky made a candid admission about the war's trajectory. 'Can we win without American support? No,' he stated, outlining the severe difficulties Ukraine would face without continued backing from the United States. He also expressed deep distrust for President Putin, saying, 'I don't trust Putin and he doesn't want success for Ukraine.' Zelensky did, however, describe his recent meeting with President Trump as productive.
Strategic Posturing as Invasion Anniversary Nears
Amid the escalating rhetoric, Foreign Minister Lavrov used an interview with the state news agency RIA to assert Russia's dominant position. As the fourth anniversary of the 2022 invasion approaches, he insisted that 'the strategic initiative rests wholly with the Russian army' and that the West must accept this reality. He reiterated that Moscow controls approximately 19% of Ukrainian territory, including the annexed regions and Crimea.
Furthermore, Lavrov indicated that Moscow is awaiting a US response to President Putin's September proposal to extend limits in a strategic arms pact for one year. Russian aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the alleged drone attack had led the Kremlin to amend its negotiating position, stating 'Russia's position will be reviewed on a number of agreements reached at the previous stage.'
The incident marks a significant and dangerous escalation in diplomatic tensions, casting a deep shadow over the fragile prospects for peace in the region.
