Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northern Russia, an allegation Kyiv denied, but President Trump, who just listened from Vladimir Putin about it, said he was “very angry” about the claimed strike.The Kremlin’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow’s negotiating position to end its war in Ukraine was under review after Russia claimed Kyiv tried to attack the presidential residence in the Novgorod region overnight with 91 long-range drones. Lavrov said all drones were destroyed by Russian air defences, with no injuries or damage.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s claims were “a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine” and undermine peace talks, according to a post to the social platform X.Trump later on Monday appeared to take Russia’s side. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., he said: “I don’t like it, it’s not good. I heard about it this morning. You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it. Early in the morning he said he was attacked. That’s no good, it’s no good,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, of the claimed strike. “It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time,” Trump added, likely referring to ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “It’s one thing to be offensive, because [Russia is] offensive, it’s another thing to attack [Putin’s] house. It’s not the right time to do any of that. … I was very angry about it.”Asked if there was evidence of the attack, Trump replied: “Well, we’ll find out. You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place? That’s possible, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning.”White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s call with Putin, saying in a post on X that the president had “concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine.”Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) later criticised Trump for appearing to side with Russia, accusing Putin of frequently lying. “President Trump and his team should get the facts first before assuming blame. Putin is a well known boldface liar,” Bacon wrote on X.Russia promised to retaliate against Ukraine and said targets were already selected for such strikes. “Such reckless actions will not go unanswered. The targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their implementation by the Russian armed forces have been determined,” Lavrov said, as per The Hill.Zelensky warned in his post that Russia would use the alleged attack to justify strikes against Ukraine, including govt buildings in Kyiv. “Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with President Trump’s team. We keep working together to bring peace closer,” he wrote.Russia’s claims came after Trump and Zelensky met at the president’s Mar-a-Lago property in Florida for three hours Sunday. The two leaders later said they were “very close” to a deal and “90 percent” of the way there.“One or two very thorny issues” remain in negotiations, Trump said, with Zelensky confirming that key territorial issues remain unresolved.
