A new diplomatic row has erupted in the ongoing peace talks after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of attempting to target President Vladimir Putin’s official residence in the Novgorod region with drones.
Lavrov claimed that Russian air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 91 long-range drones between December 28 and 29. Moscow described the alleged incident as an act of “state terrorism,” warning that it would not go unanswered. While Russia said it would remain engaged in peace negotiations, Lavrov noted that the country’s negotiating stance would be reassessed in light of the development, adding that targets for possible retaliatory strikes had already been identified.
Ukraine has strongly denied the allegation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the claim as false, accusing Moscow of using it as a pretext to justify fresh attacks on government facilities in Kyiv. He urged international partners to remain focused on the diplomatic process rather than what he described as Russian misinformation.
Despite rising tensions, details of a potential peace settlement continue to emerge following Zelenskyy’s recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. The United States is said to have proposed 15-year security guarantees for Ukraine, although Zelenskyy has indicated he is pressing for a 50-year commitment to deter future Russian aggression.
The proposed 20-point peace framework reportedly includes monitoring mechanisms and the involvement of international partners, though the exact nature of their presence remains a point of disagreement with the Kremlin. Zelenskyy has also said any final agreement would be put to a national referendum, a process that would require a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days to ensure a secure and credible vote.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to take a heavy toll. Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, claimed that Russian forces captured more than 6,400 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in 2025. President Putin has reiterated calls for the establishment of “buffer zones” along Russia’s borders to bolster security.
International partners are also preparing to define their roles in any future settlement. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ukraine’s allies will meet in Paris in early January to finalise their respective contributions to the proposed security guarantees.
As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches in February, negotiators are under growing pressure to achieve progress on contentious issues, including troop withdrawals and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
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