US President Donald Trump on Monday said he was “very angry” after Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly told him that a Ukrainian drone attack had targeted one of his homes. The claim, which comes at a sensitive moment in the Russia–Ukraine war, was swiftly rejected by Kyiv as false.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump said the Russian leader raised the issue earlier in the day during a conversation between the two.
“Who told me about that, do you know? Early in the morning, President Putin claimed to have been attacked. It’s not good,” Trump said. Referring to the alleged drone strike, he added, “I’m very angry.”
However, Trump also acknowledged uncertainty around the allegation, conceding that it was “possible” the reported attack may not have taken place. “We’ll investigate,” he said, describing the current moment as a “delicate period of time.”
“Being offended just because someone is offensive is one thing. Attacking his home is a different matter,” Trump continued. “None of that is appropriate at this time.”
Russia Alleges Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence
Trump’s remarks followed statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who accused Ukraine of attempting to strike President Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, west of Moscow, using a swarm of long-range drones late on December 28 and 29.
According to Lavrov, as many as 91 drones were launched during the alleged attack, all of which were intercepted by Russian air defence systems before they could cause damage. Moscow portrayed the incident as a serious escalation by Kyiv.
Ukraine, however, categorically denied the accusation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the claim as fabricated, calling it “another round of lies from the Russian Federation.”
Trump Speaks to Putin Twice in 24 Hours
The controversy unfolded as Trump held two conversations with President Putin within a 24-hour period, just a day after meeting Zelenskyy in Florida. The rapid diplomatic engagements underscore the urgency and volatility surrounding efforts to end the nearly three-year-old conflict.
Despite the uproar over the alleged drone incident, Trump described his latest call with the Russian leader as constructive. “It was a very productive talk,” he said. “We have a few very thorny issues, as you can imagine.”
Trump suggested that progress toward peace was still possible if those obstacles could be resolved. “If we get them resolved, you can have peace,” he stated, striking a cautiously optimistic tone.
Fragile Peace Efforts Amid Rising Tensions
If independently verified, the reported drone incident would mark yet another escalation in hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv at a time when diplomatic efforts to broker a settlement remain precarious.
Trump met President Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday and said that while significant territorial disputes remained, negotiators were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to an agreement to end the war.
Meanwhile, President Putin struck a defiant note on Monday, urging Russian forces to continue their campaign to seize full control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The Kremlin also reiterated demands that Kyiv withdraw its troops from the remaining parts of the Donbas region still under Ukrainian control.
As accusations, denials, and high-stakes diplomacy unfold simultaneously, the alleged drone attack — whether real or rhetorical — highlights the extreme fragility of the current moment and the risks that even unverified claims pose to already strained peace efforts.
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