Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of fabricating an alleged drone attack on Vladimir Putin's residence in order to sabotage peace talks with the United States, warning that Moscow is preparing to strike government buildings in Kyiv.
The Ukrainian president dismissed the Kremlin's claim as "typical Russian lies" following his two-hour meeting with Donald Trump in Florida. He said Russia was using "dangerous statements" to undermine diplomatic efforts, and that the alleged attack was a "complete fabrication" intended to justify further assaults on Ukraine.
Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said air defences had shot down 91 drones and that targets for retaliatory strikes had been selected. The Kremlin's presidential adviser, Yuri Ushakov, claimed Putin had briefed Trump, who said the news made him "very angry". Trump added that he had learned of the incident from Putin, but acknowledged it might not have taken place.
Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said Moscow was using the old tactic of accusing the other side of what it was planning itself. Zelenskyy warned that a strike on a main government complex in Kyiv was likely, similar to Russia's bombing of a cabinet building in September.
On security guarantees, Zelenskyy said the US had offered strong guarantees for 15 years, but he had asked for 30, 40 or 50 years. He acknowledged the Donbas region remained unresolved and that previous guarantees, including the Budapest memorandum, "did not work". Trump has ruled out deploying peacekeeping troops, while Zelenskyy said international monitors would be the best form of security.
