Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply denied Russian accusations that Kyiv launched a drone attack on one of Vladimir Putin’s residences, calling the claim a deliberate fabrication designed to derail fragile peace efforts involving US President Donald Trump.
The dispute erupted after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov alleged that Ukraine had launched 91 drones at Putin’s Valdai residence in the Novgorod region of northern Russia. Lavrov said the alleged attack would force Moscow to revise its negotiating stance, a statement that immediately raised concerns about escalating rhetoric at a sensitive moment in diplomacy.
Zelensky responded within hours, dismissing the accusation as “fake” and accusing Moscow of deploying a familiar tactic aimed at undermining negotiations. “This is a lie,” Zelensky said, adding that Russia was attempting to sabotage progress in talks with the United States and justify potential new strikes on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed that assessment, urging international leaders to condemn what he described as Russian “manipulations.” In a statement on social media, Sybiha said Moscow was seeking “false justification” for further military action, accusing Russia of projecting its own intentions onto Kyiv.
Zelensky said he had already discussed the issue with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and warned that Russia may be preparing attacks on government buildings in Kyiv. No independent evidence has been presented publicly to support Russia’s drone claim, and Ukrainian officials have categorically denied any involvement.
The allegations surfaced as Trump acknowledged he had been informed of Russia’s accusation and confirmed that he had spoken with Putin earlier the same day. Trump described the conversation as “very good,” while conceding that negotiations to end the war face “very thorny issues.”
Behind the scenes, tensions appear to be growing over the shape and durability of any potential settlement. Zelensky revealed that the United States has so far offered Ukraine security guarantees lasting 15 years, with the possibility of extension. Kyiv had entered recent high-level talks in Florida seeking commitments of up to 50 years to deter future Russian aggression.
“I told him that we are already at war, and it has been for almost 15 years,” Zelensky said, explaining why he believes longer guarantees are essential. He said Ukraine would prefer assurances lasting 30 to 50 years, arguing that anything shorter risks leaving the country exposed once again.
Zelensky also reiterated that the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine would constitute a meaningful security guarantee, describing it as a concrete reinforcement of commitments offered by Western partners. He added that any final peace agreement would likely require approval from the Ukrainian public through a referendum, contingent on a 60-day ceasefire, something he said Russia has so far refused to accept.
While diplomatic uncertainty grows, Washington announced a separate move on Monday, pledging $2 billion in humanitarian assistance to countries affected by conflict and crisis. A UN spokesperson said Ukraine was among 17 countries included in the package, alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Sudan. The announcement follows earlier cuts to US aid spending under the Trump administration, as well as similar reductions by European donors redirecting funds toward defence.
Zelensky said European leaders are expected to meet in January to discuss next steps, and that he hopes to convene further talks soon with both the United States and European allies.
For now, the clash over Russia’s drone allegations underscores how easily the diplomatic track can be destabilized. As Kyiv and Washington push for clearer guarantees and Moscow signals a harder line, the gap between competing narratives and the risks of renewed escalation remains wide.
