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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that Kyiv fired drones at a presidential residence used by President Vladimir Putin, located between Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Lavrov said Ukraine launched the overnight drone attack on the residence in Russia’s northwestern Novgorod region.
Speaking to journalists, Sergey Lavrov claimed Ukraine conducted the attack using 91 long-range strike drones and that all of them were shot down by air defenses, without reports of casualties or damage.
Despite the alleged strike, Lavrov said Russia does not intend to withdraw from peace talks.
Lavrov stated that Russia will revise its negotiating position amid ongoing talks for peace in Ukraine, but added: “We do not intend to withdraw from the negotiating process with the United States.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Lavrov’s accusations, saying they were intended to derail diplomatic momentum.
He called Moscow's claim that Kyiv attacked Russian leader Vladimir Putin's residence with drones a "lie" to justify fresh strikes on Kyiv.
"Another lie from the Russian Federation," Zelensky told journalists. "They're simply preparing the ground to carry out strikes, probably on the capital and probably on government buildings," he said.
"Everyone needs to be alert now, absolutely everyone. A strike on the capital may be carried out, especially since this person (Putin)... said they will choose corresponding targets," he added.
The comments came as the White House said U.S. President Donald Trump held what it described as a “positive” phone call Monday with Putin.
“President Trump has concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on X. No further details were released.
It marked the second call between Trump and Putin in two days, following their conversation ahead of Trump’s Sunday meeting with Zelenskyy in Florida.
Trump said Sunday that major progress had been made toward ending the nearly four-year Russia-Ukraine war after his talks with Zelenskyy.
“We covered, somebody would say, 95%. I don’t know what percent, but we have made a lot of progress on ending that war,” Trump said, calling it the deadliest conflict since World War II.
He said remaining issues, including territory already seized during the war, could be resolved “in a few weeks” if negotiations proceed smoothly.
Trump also said he discussed Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction with Putin, claiming Moscow would help supply energy and electricity “at very low prices.”
“Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed,” Trump said. “President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding.”
Trump said he was prepared to address Ukraine’s parliament if it would help advance peace and suggested a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy could take place “at the right time.”
Zelenskyy said talks with Trump and European leaders had been productive, noting that 90% of a 20-point peace plan had been agreed.
He said U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees were fully agreed, while U.S.-Europe-Ukraine guarantees were close to finalization. The military dimension, he added, was “100% agreed,” with a prosperity plan still being finalized.
“We agree that security guarantees are a key milestone in achieving lasting peace,” Zelenskyy said, acknowledging difficult choices ahead.
He said negotiating teams would meet in the coming weeks to finalize outstanding issues and confirmed that Trump would host Ukrainian and European leaders in Washington in January.
Trump hosted Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Zelenskyy arrived in the United States on Sunday after a visit to Canada.
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