• Ukraine denies Russia's claims of a drone attack on Putin's residence.
• Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov suggests Moscow's negotiating position is under review.
• Zelensky accuses Russia of trying to derail peace talks with fabricated allegations.
• President Trump expresses anger over the allegations, complicating US mediation efforts.
• The conflict continues with ongoing fighting in various regions of Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Monday that Ukraine had launched a drone attack involving 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles targeting President Vladimir Putin's residence in the Novgorod region, claiming all drones were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defenses. Lavrov further stated that such actions amounted to "state terrorism" and indicated that Russia would reassess its negotiating stance regarding ongoing peace talks with Ukraine, which had recently seen promising developments, according to Reuters and India Times.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly denied these allegations, labeling them as a "complete fabrication" designed to undermine the ongoing peace negotiations. He accused Russia of using these claims to create a pretext for further military actions against Ukraine. Zelensky emphasized the need for the international community to remain vigilant, warning that Russia might escalate attacks, particularly on Kyiv, as a direct consequence of the alleged drone strike, as reported by South China Morning Post and BBC.

President Trump also commented on the situation, expressing frustration over the attack's allegations and revealing that he had been informed of them by Putin during a phone call. Trump stated it was "not good" and that it jeopardizes the delicate peace negotiations currently in progress. He remarked, "It’s one thing to be offensive; it’s another to attack [Putin’s] house," signaling concern over how this could affect U.S. mediation efforts, according to CBS News and The Hill.

As the rhetoric escalates, fighting continues on multiple fronts in Ukraine. Reports indicate fresh combat engagements across various regions, with Russia claiming advancements in areas such as Donetsk and Zaporizhia. A recent Russian strike resulted in the death of a civilian in the southeastern region, underscoring the ongoing volatility of the conflict, as noted by Le Monde and Al Jazeera.