Lavrov warns of policy shift after alleged drone attack on Putin's residence

WISE NEWS PRESS / LONDON, UK — DEC. 30, 2025

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow’s negotiation stance will change following alleged Ukrainian drone strikes targeting President Vladimir Putin’s Valday residence, an accusation President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed as a provocation.

Lavrov claimed that 91 long-range drones were launched by Ukraine on Monday night toward the Novgorod region, specifically aiming at Putin's Valday retreat. Warning that "reckless actions will not go unanswered," the Foreign Minister asserted that this escalation directly impacts the Kremlin's approach to potential peace talks. While Moscow has intensified its rhetoric, Zelensky countered that the allegations are a calculated "lie" by the Kremlin intended to derail recent diplomatic progress achieved during high-level meetings in Washington.

Allegations of a targeted strike

According to reports from the Interfax news agency, Lavrov detailed the scale of the drone wave but did not confirm whether President Putin was present at the residence during the alleged incident. International monitors, including Euronews, have not been able to independently verify the strike or its intended target. The Kremlin has historically used reports of internal security threats to justify intensified military operations or to pivot its diplomatic demands during international summits.

Zelensky warns of retaliatory threats

President Zelensky characterized the Russian claims as a desperate attempt to create a crisis between Ukraine and the incoming U.S. administration. Following his meeting with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Zelensky suggested that Moscow is searching for excuses to avoid ending the war. He further warned that Lavrov’s "open threat" could serve as a pretext for new Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure and key government buildings in Kyiv, urging citizens and international partners to remain vigilant.

Diplomatic deadlock persists

The exchange of accusations comes as U.S.-led efforts to broker a peace agreement enter a critical phase, with proposed security guarantees for Ukraine serving as a major sticking point. While Trump recently noted that the effectiveness of the current peace plan would be evident "within a few weeks," the Kremlin continues to maintain maximalist demands. Ukraine and its allies maintain that Moscow is deliberately delaying a ceasefire to consolidate territorial gains before the fourth year of the full-scale invasion begins.

www.wisenewspress.com