Trump Learns of Incident Firsthand from Putin During Phone Conversation

President Donald Trump learned about an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence firsthand from the Russian leader during a phone conversation. Trump’s subsequent public statements reflected his anger about what he characterized as poorly timed aggression.
Russian authorities claim that Ukraine launched 91 unmanned aerial vehicles toward Putin’s Novgorod region property, all of which were intercepted by air defense systems. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Russia would reconsider its approach to peace negotiations in response.
Trump’s remarks to reporters emphasized the inappropriate nature of targeting leadership residences during sensitive peace negotiations. He acknowledged Ukraine’s offensive military operations but suggested that attacks on a world leader’s home represent a different category that complicates diplomatic progress.
President Zelensky firmly denied the allegations, describing them as Russian lies designed to undermine peace efforts. He accused Moscow of fabricating the incident to justify planned strikes against Ukrainian government buildings and to sabotage recent diplomatic achievements.
The dispute threatens recent progress, particularly after Trump and Zelensky’s Florida meeting produced positive signals about peace prospects. The Kremlin’s announcement following the Trump-Putin phone call that Russia would reassess negotiations demonstrates the controversy’s immediate impact.