ISTANBUL / NEW DELHI

China called Tuesday for de-escalation while Pakistan expressed solidarity and India voiced concern after Russia said Ukraine carried out a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s official residence in Russia’s northwestern Novgorod region.

“Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the Ukraine crisis,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news conference in Beijing.

China's reaction came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that Ukraine launched an overnight attack on Putin’s residence in Novgorod using 91 long-range strike drones.

Lin urged the sides to observe three principles for de-escalation.

“Namely, no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting” and lastly, no adding fuel to the fire by any party.

“De-escalate the situation and accumulate conditions for the political settlement,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately denied Lavrov's claim in a statement on the US social media company X’s platform, arguing the accusation seeks to "undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with (US) President (Donald) Trump's team."

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his country’s solidarity with Putin over the alleged targeting of his official residence.

“Pakistan condemns the reported targeting of the residence of His Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation,” Sharif said on X.

“Such a heinous act constitutes a grave threat to peace, security and stability, particularly at a time when efforts aimed at peace are underway.

“We reiterate our firm rejection of all forms of violence and acts intended to undermine security and threaten peace,” he added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed concern.

“Deeply concerned by reports of the targeting of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation,” Modi said in a statement on X.

“Ongoing diplomatic efforts offer the most viable path toward ending hostilities and achieving peace,” he added.

“We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any actions that could undermine them.”

During a phone call with Trump on Monday, Putin said the attack “will not go unanswered.”

"I don't like it. It's not good," Trump later told reporters. "President Putin told me about it early in the morning. He said he was attacked. It's no good."