Ukraine did not attack Putin’s residence, says Trump after American checks
Donald Trump has said Ukraine did not target a residence belonging to Russian leader Vladimir Putin in an apparent drone attack.
Moscow had previously accused Ukraine of trying to strike a residence in Russia’s northern Novgorod region at the end of last month with 91 long-range attack drones.
After checks by American officials, Mr Trump said although “something happened nearby”, the Russian leader’s residence was not targeted.
He said: “I don’t believe that strike happened.
“We don’t believe that happened, now that we’ve been able to check.”
The US president had initially expressed sympathy for the Russian charge, explaining that Mr Putin had informed him of the alleged incident.
On 29 December, Mr Trump said “we’ll find out” what evidence exists of the alleged attack, but added: “I don’t like it. It’s not good. I learned about it from President Putin today. I was very angry about it.
“It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time. It’s one thing to be offensive, because they’re offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house.
“It’s not the right time to do any of that.”
The Russian allegation came just a day after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with Mr Trump in Florida over the plan to end the war.
Russia also released footage of what it claimed was a drone used in the alleged attack.
Mr Zelenskyy said Russia’s claims were “lies”.
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Ukraine and other Western countries had continued to dispute Russia’s account of the alleged attempted strike, with European officials also arguing it was nothing more than an effort by Moscow to undermine the peace effort.
Russia followed its accusations of the attack by saying it would be reviewing its negotiating position in ongoing talks with the US on ending the Ukraine war.
