- Aasiya Niaz
- Today
PM Shehbaz denounces targeting of Russian president’s residence
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- Web Desk
- Dec 30, 2025
WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the incident targeting the residence of the Russian president, describing it as alarming and highly reprehensible. He said such acts pose a serious threat to global peace, security and regional stability.
The prime minister expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Russian president, government and people, reiterating that Pakistan rejects all forms of violence, attacks and aggressive actions. Emphasising that disputes can only be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means, Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan would continue to support international efforts aimed at promoting global peace and security.
Ukraine rejects Russia’s claims
Ukraine firmly rejected Russian claims that it had carried out a drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, accusing Moscow of spreading disinformation to justify continued military action and undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov alleged that Ukraine launched an overnight attack using 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Putin’s state residence in the northwestern Novgorod region. According to Moscow, all drones were intercepted by Russian air defence systems, with no reported casualties or damage. Russian officials did not disclose the president’s whereabouts at the time of the alleged incident.
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the accusation as “typical Russian lies,” arguing that the claim was designed to derail peace initiatives and provide the Kremlin with a pretext to escalate attacks on Ukraine. He said Russia itself had repeatedly targeted government buildings and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Writing on social media platform X, Zelensky urged the international community not to remain silent, warning that Moscow was attempting to sabotage efforts aimed at achieving a lasting peace. He stressed that disinformation campaigns posed a serious risk to diplomatic momentum.
In a statement posted on Telegram, Lavrov described the alleged drone operation as further evidence of what he called Kyiv’s “policy of state terrorism,” adding that Russia would reassess its negotiating stance as a result. However, he indicated that Moscow did not intend to withdraw from talks involving the United States.
The dispute emerged a day after talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Florida, where President Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump to discuss a revised peace framework. Following the meeting, Zelensky said there was a realistic possibility of ending the war in 2026, though he underlined that Ukraine could not secure victory without continued American support.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky said Washington appeared prepared to take tougher economic and sanctions-related measures against Russia, suggesting these steps could accelerate progress towards peace. He also said the United States had proposed security guarantees for Ukraine lasting 15 years, with Trump indicating that agreement on the issue was nearly finalised.
Despite this, Zelensky expressed deep scepticism about Putin’s willingness to pursue peace, saying he did not trust the Russian leader’s intentions. He identified unresolved territorial questions and the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as major sticking points in negotiations. There has also been little progress on the contested Donbas region, where Russia currently controls most of Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk.
Moscow has previously rejected key elements of the peace proposals under discussion, highlighting the continued gap between the two sides despite renewed diplomatic engagement.
