Top Russian diplomat claims overnight Ukrainian drone strike on presidential residence
Sergey Lavrov says Russia won't withdraw from Ukraine peace negotiations over alleged attack; Zelenskyy denies claims, saying they seek to hinder progress in talks with US
ISTANBUL
Russia’s foreign minister on Monday claimed that Ukraine carried out an overnight drone attack on the presidential residence in Novgorod, in the country’s northwest.
Speaking to journalists, Sergey Lavrov claimed Ukraine launched the attack using 91 long-range strike drones and that all of them were shot down by air defenses, without reports of casualties or damage.
Due to the alleged attack, Lavrov said that Russia will revise its negotiating position amid ongoing talks for peace in Ukraine, but added: “We do not intend to withdraw from the negotiating process with the United States.”
He warned that such "reckless actions will not go unanswered" and that Russian has prepared retaliatory strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied Lavrov's claims in a statement on US social media company X, arguing the accusations seek to "undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with (US) President (Donald) Trump's team."
He claimed Moscow's claims seek to "justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war."
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