Foreign Ministry comments on Lavrov’s claim of an attack on Putin’s residence
Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha has described Moscow’s accusations of an alleged attempt to strike Putin’s residence in Valdai as a deliberate manipulation.
In a post on the social media platform X, the Foreign Minister stressed that such statements are intended to create a false pretext for further escalation and new Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
According to the diplomat, this is part of the Kremlin’s classic tactic of accusing the other side of actions that the aggressor itself has committed or plans to carry out in the near future, in order to undermine constructive negotiations currently taking place with the mediation of the United States.
Sybiha outlined three key arguments that refute Russia’s allegations and highlight the manipulative nature of Sergey Lavrov’s statement. First, it was Russia that carried out direct strikes on government buildings in Kyiv during 2025, making its accusations particularly cynical. Second, Ukraine strictly adheres to international law and targets only legitimate military objectives on Russian territory solely as a means of defending itself against ongoing aggression. Third, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine is exercising its inherent right to self-defence, meaning there can be no comparison between an aggressor state and a country defending itself.
The Ukrainian side called on the international community to condemn yet another attempt by Russia to use disinformation as a tool to withdraw from negotiations or shift its position towards a more radical stance. Kyiv has officially reaffirmed its commitment to peace efforts currently being coordinated with the team of US President Donald Trump and European partners.
Sybiha’s statement came amid threats by Lavrov to reconsider the terms of a future peace agreement, which Ukraine views as yet another act of blackmail by Moscow, alarmed by progress towards a just peace.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that an alleged large-scale drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state residence in Valdai, Novgorod Region, had taken place on the night of 29 December 2025, calling it grounds for revising the terms of a peace settlement. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has since stated that Russia will continue pursuing the objectives of its full-scale war against Ukraine in line with the plans of the Russian General Staff.
