U.S. president Donald Trump has rejected Russian claims that Ukraine attempted to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence with drones, saying he does not believe such a strike took place. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, January 4th, aboard Air Force One, Trump said there was uncertainty at the time and that U.S. officials later found no proof of a Ukrainian attack.
Russia’s defence ministry had earlier released a video of a downed UAV it said was aimed at Putin’s home in the Novgorod region. Moscow claimed the residence was not damaged and that Putin was elsewhere, but accused Ukraine of acting in bad faith during ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Kyiv and its Western allies have denied the claim, while Trump said that although “something” may have happened near the site, it was not believed to have been a Ukrainian strike.
The dispute comes as talks to end the war pick up speed. European leaders are set to meet in France on Tuesday, January 6th, to discuss a U.S.-backed peace plan, which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says is nearly complete. Meanwhile, fighting continues in Ukraine, with new air strikes reported around Kyiv and at least two deaths overnight.
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