Russia has leveled serious accusations against Ukraine, claiming that dozens of drones were launched at one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences in the Novgorod region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, known for his restraint on announcing military actions, stated that Ukraine had targeted Putin’s home with “91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles” between late Sunday and early Monday. He asserted that all of these drones were intercepted, but did not provide any substantiating evidence for this claim.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the allegations as “a complete fabrication,” suggesting that they were intended to sabotage ongoing efforts for peace facilitated by the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had spoken with Putin earlier that day, expressed disapproval of the purported drone strike. “I don’t like it. It’s not good,” Trump commented, adding that the timing was delicate and that he learned of the situation from the Russian leader himself.
This exchange of accusations occurs during a crucial phase in the peace negotiations between the two nations. According to Ukraine, it has agreed to 90 percent of a U.S.-drafted peace plan, which includes discussions about post-war security guarantees. However, unresolved territorial disputes remain a key sticking point, with Russia steadfastly rejecting proposals that do not meet its demands for land.
During the aforementioned call, Putin conveyed to Trump that Russia retains a commitment to the peace process but signaled a potential reevaluation of Russia’s negotiating stance following the alleged drone attacks.
Since the outset of the conflict with the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Russia described as a “special military operation,” the situation has escalated into the most significant and deadly war in Europe since World War II. Ukraine, alongside its European allies, decries the invasion as an unprovoked and illegal land grab that has led to extensive violence and destruction.
Discussions surrounding a potential peace deal also included Zelensky’s announcement that the U.S. has offered security guarantees for a future settlement, initially proposed for 15 years with a possibility for extension. Despite this progress, the contentious issue of territorial claims remains unresolved. Putin has expressed aspirations for full control over Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, stating that the Russian military is focused on achieving this through ongoing military operations.
In Kyiv, where residents have endured incessant Russian bombardments for nearly four years, optimism for a diplomatic breakthrough is scarce. As photographer Anastasiia Pashchenko remarked, previous security guarantees had yielded little, leaving many disillusioned. Meanwhile, in Moscow, the public, while desiring an end to hostilities, largely supports the Kremlin’s agenda. Local sentiments reflect a desire for terms set by Russia, with one engineer stating, “Only Russia can put forward some conditions.”
Young fighters, like 23-year-old Nikita, echoed a sense of national pride in Russia’s military advancements in eastern Ukraine, emphasizing the idea of Russia as a powerful entity to be respected, despite the toll of the conflict.
