Trump says he does not believe Ukraine attacked Putin's residence
US President Donald Trump has said he does not believe Russia's claim that Ukraine attacked one of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's residences.
Source: Trump aboard Air Force One, quoted by Reuters
Quote from Trump: "I don't believe that strike happened.
There is something that happened fairly nearby, but had nothing to do with this."
Details: On Monday 29 December, Putin complained to Trump during a phone conversation that Ukrainian drones had allegedly attacked his Uzhin residence in the village of Dolgiye Borody in Russia's Novgorod Oblast.
Later, while speaking to journalists, Trump admitted that the attack might not have taken place.
"You're saying maybe the attack didn't take place. That's possible too, I guess. But President Putin told me this morning it did," Trump said. [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president – ed.]
Previously: The US National Security Agency concluded that Ukraine did not attempt to attack the residence of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, refuting Moscow's claims about an alleged assassination attempt.
Background:
- Two days after Putin's claim, the Russian Defence Ministry posted a fake map showing the supposed movement of Ukrainian drones. Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service dismissed the claims as false.
- Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Ukraine had allegedly struck Putin's residence on the night of 28-29 December, warning that it would affect "the negotiating position".
- Ukraine has officially denied this information.
- "Another lie by Russia. Obviously, yesterday we had the meeting with Trump, and obviously for the Russians, if there is no quarrel between America and us, and we have progress instead, then that is a failure for them. They don't want to end this war. They are only capable of ending it under pressure," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented.
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