ALBAWABA - Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, stated that the recent Ukrainian drone attack on a residence associated with President Vladimir Putin was a political message directed at U.S. President Donald Trump. This came as diplomatic talks between Washington and Moscow were picking up again.
During a Russian television appearance, Zakharova characterized the event as a calculated provocation by Kyiv. She argued that Ukraine's leadership has consistently employed such tactics to sway or pressure Western leaders. She further asserted that this approach was reminiscent of how President Volodymyr Zelensky interacted with previous American administrations.
Earlier, Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, leveled accusations against Ukraine, claiming it had orchestrated a "terrorist attack." He stated that numerous long-range drones had been launched overnight, targeting Putin's residence in the Novgorod region. Lavrov maintained that Russian air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed all the incoming drones, averting any damage or injuries.
This alleged attack coincided with the White House's confirmation of a phone call between President Trump and President Putin. The conversation, centered on the war in Ukraine, was characterized as constructive.
The incident further strains the already tense relationship between Moscow and Kyiv, especially as diplomatic efforts, partly spearheaded by Washington, are gaining momentum in the search for a resolution to the nearly four-year-old conflict.
