Overview
- Russia kept its allegation and released defense ministry video of purported drone fragments while stating retaliatory targets are set and its negotiating stance will harden without quitting talks.
- Ukraine rejected the claim as fabricated, said Moscow has provided no plausible evidence, and circulated a briefing to EU missions alleging an effort to sabotage agreements from the Mar-a-Lago talks.
- U.S. national security officials, including a CIA assessment reported by media, concluded Ukraine did not target Putin or his residences, as Trump shifted from initial anger to a more skeptical posture.
- Europe pushed back on Moscow’s narrative, with the EU’s top diplomat calling the claim a deliberate distraction and German and Polish leaders stressing progress and transparency in the peace process.
- Questions mounted over Russia’s account, including inconsistent drone tallies from its defense ministry and local reports of no air-defense activity near the Novgorod site cited by Moscow.