Trump says he is ‘very angry’ about Russian claims Ukraine attacked Putin’s home, telling reporters ‘it’s not the right time to do any of that’

The Kremlin threatened to withdraw from peace talks last night after accusing Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Vladimir Putin.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia’s negotiating position would change as a result of Ukraine’s alleged drone attack on a state residence, but Kiev denied this.

The dramatic exchange occurred before an hour-long phone call between the Russian and US presidents, the second in recent days.

A White House spokesman described the meeting as “positive.”

Donald Trump later told reporters that he was “very angry” when he heard about the alleged attack on the Valdai estate in Novgorod province, a favorite of Putin’s.

The US President said: ‘Being aggressive is one thing. Attacking your home is one thing.

‘This is not the right time to do this. And I learned this today from President Putin. ‘I was so angry about that.’

After questions from journalists, he said that it was ‘possible’ that the attack did not happen.

Last night Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied any attempt to kill his counterpart and accused Russia of a ‘false flag’ operation.

Mr Zelensky said the allegations were ‘a new round of lies’ and an attempt by alarmed Russia to undermine peace talks.

According to Mr. Lavrov, Russian defenses destroyed 91 Ukrainian drones that targeted the mansion on Sunday night. He did not confirm whether Putin was there at the time.

Mr Lavrov accused Ukraine of ‘state terrorism’ and said Russia had already selected targets for retaliatory attacks.

Mr. Lavrov also said in an interview published late Monday that the West must understand that the strategic initiative in Ukraine lies with Russia as talks progress.

The foreign minister also said in a wide-ranging interview with state news agency RIA that Moscow was awaiting a response from the United States to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal in September to extend the limits of the strategic arms agreement for another year.

Lavrov told RIA that Ukraine and Western countries must accept the fact that Russia retains the initiative on the battlefield on the fourth anniversary of the Kremlin’s invasion of the small neighboring approaches in 2022.

‘Our principled stance has not changed. Lavrov said that the strategic initiative is entirely in the hands of the Russian army and the West understands this.

Oleg, a Ukrainian soldier from the 24th Brigade, inside a church damaged by Russian bombing in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, December 28, 2025

Tania, one of the few civilians left in the city, carries water to her home in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, on December 28, 2025.

He said Ukraine and Western countries should take into account the realities on the ground. Russia holds about 19% of Ukraine’s territory and annexed four regions of the country, as well as Crimea, which it captured in 2014.

Russian sources said last night that Putin told Mr Trump that the Kremlin had changed its negotiating position following the alleged drone attack.

Russian deputy Yuri Ushakov said: ‘Russia’s position will be reviewed on a number of agreements reached in the previous stage and on the changes that have emerged.’

Zelensky admitted last night that Ukraine could not win its war against Russia without American support and that he does not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin.

‘Can we win without American support? ⁠No,” Zelensky said in an interview on Monday’s Fox News show “Special Report with Bret Baier,” before laying out the challenges a lack of U.S. support would create.

“I don’t trust Putin and he doesn’t want Ukraine’s success,” said Zelensky, adding that his meeting with President Donald Trump on Sunday was productive.