FILE|Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with head of the Udmurt Republic at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 10, 2023. (Photo by Alexander Kazakov / SPUTNIK / AFP) The Kremlin said Tuesday it would not provide evidence for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on one of Vladimir Putin’s residences, as the drones were all shot down and Russia’s military typically handles such inquiries. “I don’t think there should be any evidence if such a massive drone attack is being carried out, which, thanks to the well-coordinated work of the air defence system, was shot down,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in a call.
Peskov also said Russia would “toughen” its negotiating stance in talks on ending the Ukraine war following the alleged attack, which Kyiv denies. Russia accused Ukraine on Monday of having fired dozens of drones at one of Putin’s residences, an accusation that Ukraine called a “lie” aimed at undermining US-led efforts to end the war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who does not typically announce drone strikes, said Ukraine had fired “91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles” at Putin’s home in the Novgorod region between late Sunday and early Monday, all of which were shot down.
“Given the complete degeneration of the criminal Kyiv regime, which has shifted to a policy of state terrorism, Russia’s negotiating position will be reconsidered,” Lavrov said, without elaborating or providing evidence for Russia’s assertions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia’s claim “a complete fabrication” designed to undermine the peace process, but US President Donald Trump — who held a call with Putin earlier Monday — directed his criticism at Kyiv. “I don’t like it.
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It’s not good,” Trump told reporters of the alleged attack at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. “You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it.” “It’s a delicate period of time.
This is not the right time,” Trump added. Russia’s accusation comes at a pivotal moment in the peace process.
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