President Donald Trump said he does not believe a reported Ukrainian drone strike targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence, pushing back on Moscow’s claim as U.S.-led talks over the war continue.
Trump told reporters on Sunday on Air Force One, which was on its way back to Washington, D.C., from Florida, “I don’t believe that strike happened.” “Something happened pretty close by, but it had nothing to do with this.”
Russia’s foreign ministry said in a Dec. 29 statement that Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones at a state residence in Russia’s Novgorod region and that air defenses neutralized them, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Moscow has portrayed the allegation as a provocation during negotiations.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the accusation, calling the “residence strike” story a “complete fabrication” meant to justify more attacks on Ukraine and to undermine efforts to end the war, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X.
Ukraine and Western countries have disputed Russia’s account of the alleged attack. No independent evidence was publicly provided by Moscow in the statement to substantiate that Putin’s residence was the target.
