Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the Kremlin is frustrated by the productive outcome of the Ukraine-US talks in Florida and is fabricating justifications to launch attacks on government facilities in Kyiv.
Source: Zelenskyy in a virtual address to media representatives
Quote: “This is another Russian falsehood. Clearly, following our meeting with Trump yesterday, the Russians view the absence of a rift between us and America—and the existence of progress—as a defeat. They have no intention of ending this war. They will only end it if forced. Therefore, I am certain they were hunting for pretexts… and they are escalating.”
“Now, concerning this allegation about a residence attack, I am convinced they are merely setting the stage to bombard the [Ukrainian] capital, and likely government buildings specifically.”
Details: Zelenskyy referenced the September missile strike by Russia on the Cabinet of Ministers building.
“Therefore, everyone must remain extremely vigilant now. A strike on the capital is possible. Given that this figure—if he can be called a human—mentioned selecting targets, he is issuing threats,” Zelenskyy remarked. He added that the US President, his team, and European leaders need to intervene and “conduct the necessary work with those who claimed only yesterday that they are eager to end the war”.
Previously:
The Russian Foreign Ministry alleged that Ukraine launched a drone strike on a residence belonging to Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the night of 28–29 December, warning that this would prompt a review of Russia’s “negotiating terms”.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also declared that Russia has already decided on the specific targets and timeline for retaliatory strikes.
Background:
In 2021, the Russian Anti-Corruption Foundation released a video exposing Vladimir Putin’s secret official country retreat on Lake Valdai in Novgorod Oblast. The group identified four properties used by the leader: the Kremlin, Novo-Ogaryovo in the Moscow region, Bocharov Ruchey in Sochi, and Dolgye Borody (Valdai or Uzhin) in the Novgorod region.
In 2023, the investigative outlet Proekt reported that a concealed railway network and stations had been built to connect Putin’s various residences.
In April 2023, news emerged that a Pantsir-S1 air defense system had been deployed in Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi, near one of Putin’s undisclosed estates.
In October 2024, the primary structure at the Sochi residence was reportedly demolished because the Russian leader had grown afraid to visit the resort following Ukrainian drone operations.