Kyiv (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russia’s claims of striking President Vladimir Putin’s residence, calling them false amid tense peace talks.
As reported by The Independent, Moscow accused on Monday, 29 December, that Ukraine attempted to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence, vowing a response.
Kyiv dismissed the accusation as baseless, stating that it was aimed at derailing the ongoing peace talks.
What did Volodymyr Zelenskyy say about Russia’s alleged drone attack on Putin’s residence?
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of attempting to undermine peace talks and preparing attacks on government buildings, after the Kremlin said it had stopped a Ukrainian drone targeting Vladimir Putin’s residence.
After his two-hour meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, December 28, President Zelenskyy dismissed the allegation as “typical Russian lies,” saying Moscow was attempting to undermine diplomatic efforts between the US and Ukraine to resolve the conflict.
He said,
“This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said Moscow is repeating the old tactic of projecting its own actions onto others. He argued that Ukrainian forces target only legitimate military sites while defending the country from Russian attacks.
President Zelenskyy previously said the US had provided “strong” security guarantees to Ukraine for 15 years, while acknowledging that the future of the eastern Donbas region remained unresolved following talks with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Ukraine views the guarantees as vital to preventing renewed Russian strikes in the event of a peace deal. President Zelenskyy admitted that past assurances, including the 1994 Budapest Memorandum supported by the US and UK, did not deliver.
The recent US security commitments have not been fully detailed, with President Trump rejecting the deployment of peacekeeping forces. Mr Zelenskyy said that international monitors in a postwar Ukraine would provide the strongest security and reassure citizens.
Ukraine’s president said,
“We would really like the guarantees to be longer. I told him [Trump] that we would like to consider guarantees for 30, 40, or even 50 years, and that would be a historic decision by President Trump. The president said he would think about it.”
He ruled out giving land to Russia, saying,
“Russia’s aim is clear. In their imagination, they wish we did not exist on our own territory.”
He instead recommended a demilitarized and free economic zone along the current frontline, with both sides withdrawing their forces.
President Zelenskyy said the peace plan could be put to a Ukrainian referendum, contingent on a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days. He described such a vote as a “powerful tool” reflecting the will of the people.
On Sunday, President Trump held a video call with European allies from Mar-a-Lago. President Zelenskyy said he aims to meet them in Europe in the coming days, with a joint follow-up meeting with Mr Trump expected in January, likely at the White House.
What did Donald Trump say about Ukraine’s alleged attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence?
President Trump said on Monday that Russian President Putin informed him that Ukraine had tried to strike his residence in northern Russia.
He said,
“I don’t like it. It’s not good. I learned about it from President Putin today. I was very angry about it.”
President Trump added,
“It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time. It’s one thing to be offensive, because they’re offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that.”
When questioned about the evidence of the strikes, he replied, “We’ll find out.”
His remarks follow Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s claim that 91 long-range drones were intercepted near President Putin’s residence in Novgorod on 28-29 December, which he described as “state terrorism.”
How did experts describe Donald Trump’s remarks during the Mar-a-Lago meeting?
Ukrainian commenters said on Monday that they were relieved the Mar-a-Lago meeting did not repeat the humiliating February incident when President Trump reportedly forced Zelenskyy out of the Oval Office.
Critics in Ukraine slammed some of President Trump’s remarks, including his claim that
“Russia wants to see a very successful Ukraine.”
They noted that he declined to condemn the Kremlin’s large-scale drone attack on Kyiv, which involved more than 500 drones, saying only,
“Ukraine has made very strong attacks as well.”
On Bluesky, Maria Popova, associate professor of political science at McGill University, criticized President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago press conference, saying he
“sounded again like a Putin sock puppet.”
She noted that Trump had held a long phone call with President Putin just before he met with Mr Zelenskyy, adding that his mind was
“freshly full of Russian propaganda.”
What are the key points of the Ukraine peace plan?
- Ukraine’s sovereignty will be fully recognized.
- Russia and Ukraine will sign a non-aggression deal.
- Ukraine will receive strong security guarantees from the US, NATO, and Europe.
- Kyiv will keep its armed forces at current strength.
- Ukraine will join the EU and get preferential market access.
- The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant will be jointly managed with international partners.
- Territorial disputes will be resolved with demilitarized and economic zones.
- A full ceasefire will start once all parties agree.