Vladimir Putin Risks Ukraine Peace Talks With ‘Nonsense’ Claim

Russia has claimed Ukraine attacked one of Vladimir Putin’s residences with drones after warm talks between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Ukrainian leader met with his US counterpart in Florida over the weekend, where they said they had moved “very close” to a new peace deal.

But, hours later, Putin told Trump over the phone that Kyiv had targeted one of his homes with 91 drones – even though he offered no accompanying evidence.

Russia said all drones were destroyed by its air defence force, with no injuries or damages sustained.

The US president appeared to instantly believe the claim – even though Ukraine said it was “a complete fabrication”.

He told reporters: “I don’t like it, it’s not good. I heard about it this morning. You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it. Early in the morning he said he was attacked. That’s no good, it’s no good.”

He said: “It’s one thing to be offensive, because [Russia is] offensive, it’s another thing to attack [Putin’s] house. It’s not the right time to do any of that. … I was very angry about it.”

Asked if he’s seen evidence of the attack, Trump replied: “Well, we’ll find out. You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place? That’s possible, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning.”

But Kyiv has denied the allegations and accused Moscow of trying to derail the peace talks.

In a social media post, Zelenskyy wrote: “Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with President Trump’s team. We keep working together to bring peace closer.”

Putin’s top team including foreign minister Sergei Lavrov doubled down on the unsubstantiated claim and threatened to retaliate.

He said: “Such reckless actions will not go unanswered. The targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their implementation by the Russian armed forces have been determined.”

Trump has been pushing for a rapid end to the Ukraine war ever since he returned to office, even if that means rewarding Russia for its aggression.

Although Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and now holds a fifth of the country’s sovereign land, the US president has repeatedly blamed Zelenskyy for the war.

Commentators pointed out how this moment seems to have come just as Trump was softening towards Ukraine again.

US veterans affairs secretary during the first Trump administration, Robert Wilkie, told Radio 4: “I don’t think any peace is possible for the foreseeable future because of Vladimir Putin.

“It’s no coincidence that he pulled this stunt as it appeared to the rest of the world that the United States, Ukraine and the European Union and Nato were coming together under this 20-point peace plan.”

He added that there was no evidence of Putin’s claim and that Ukraine’s forces have never been “this tactically and politically stupid”.

“This is more nonsense from Putin, and I hope that the officials in the White House and the president aren’t buying it and can see what it is,” he said.

BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg also told the Today programme that Russian authorities have jumped into action to slam Kyiv.

“The tone of the statements being made here are off the scale in terms of anti-Ukrainian, anti-Zelenskyy bile,” he said, noting how Russian newspapers have suggested the Kremlin “may use this moment to exert even more pressure on Ukraine”.

Rosenberg said: “The Kremlin leader has invested so much in this so called special military operation, a nearly four-year war. It’s existential for him now, I think.

“Because he feels that he’s winning on the battlefield and because he’s sees that there is a president in the White House is keen to build a relationship with him, with Russia – a US president who has been critical of the EU – that is cementing his determination to secure peace on his terms.”