Reporters in Florida heard President Donald Trump express clear frustration over an alleged attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence, emphasizing his belief that the timing was particularly inappropriate. Trump revealed he learned about the incident directly from Putin during their phone conversation.
Russian authorities allege that Ukraine deployed 91 long-range drones in a coordinated strike attempt on Putin’s Novgorod region property. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that while all aerial vehicles were successfully intercepted, the incident represented what Moscow views as an escalation to “state terrorism.”
Trump’s comments to the assembled media emphasized the distinction between acceptable military actions and attacks targeting a world leader’s home. He acknowledged Ukraine’s ongoing military operations but suggested that residential attacks cross a threshold that complicates his mediation efforts significantly.
Ukrainian President Zelensky pushed back forcefully against the allegations in a detailed social media response. He characterized the claims as typical Russian fabrications designed to justify future aggression against Ukrainian government infrastructure and to sabotage the diplomatic breakthrough achieved during his Florida meeting with Trump.
The diplomatic setback comes at what had seemed like a promising moment for peace. The Kremlin’s subsequent announcement that Russia would reconsider its negotiating stance indicates that the controversy has already eroded recent gains.