Trump dismisses Kremlin claim of drone attack on Putin residence

Trump’s remarks also came after European officials suggested that Moscow’s claim was intended to undermine ongoing peace efforts. (file photo)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said American officials have found no evidence that Ukraine targeted a residence belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a drone incident last week, contradicting claims made by the Kremlin.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington, Trump said that while there may have been some activity in the vicinity, Putin’s residence was not the target. “Something happened nearby,” Trump said, “but we don’t believe that strike happened, now that we’ve been able to check.”

The statement followed allegations by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Ukraine had launched a wave of drones at Putin’s state residence in the northwestern Novgorod region, an attack he claimed Russian air defences successfully repelled. Lavrov criticised Kyiv for carrying out the alleged strike at a time when negotiations to end the war were intensifying.

The Russian claim emerged a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to Florida for talks with Trump on the U.S. administration’s still-evolving 20-point plan aimed at ending the war. Zelenskyy promptly denied the allegation.

However, Trump had initially appeared to accept the Russian version of events. Last Monday, he told reporters that Putin had raised the issue during a phone call between the two leaders and said he was “very angry” about the accusation.

Trump has struggled to fulfil his campaign promise to quickly end the war in Ukraine and has expressed frustration with both Zelenskyy and Putin as he attempts to mediate a settlement to a conflict he once claimed he could end in a day.

While Trump and Zelenskyy said progress was made during their talks at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort last week, Putin has shown little indication of willingness to end the war unless Russia’s objectives are met, including full control of Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region and strict limits on the size and capabilities of Ukraine’s post-war military.