France: No evidence implicating Ukraine in targeting Putin amid Zelensky's denial
A source close to the French presidency revealed in recent press statements that Moscow's accusations against Ukraine regarding a drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence lack any concrete evidence. The source confirmed that Paris, after reviewing available information and coordinating with its international partners, found no "conclusive evidence" to support the Russian narrative. The source also noted that Moscow authorities presented contradictory accounts of the nature and details of the incident, raising doubts about the credibility of the accusation.
Challenging the peace agenda and conflicting narratives
The French source explained that the continuation and intensification of Russian airstrikes following this alleged incident constitutes, in itself, an act of defiance against current diplomatic efforts, specifically the peace agenda that US President Donald Trump is trying to establish. This statement reflects European concern that Moscow might exploit such incidents as a pretext to escalate military operations and undermine any emerging negotiating path, especially given the active diplomatic efforts of recent weeks.
Zelensky: Moscow's accusations are a blatant "lie"
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy categorically denied his country's involvement in any attack on Putin's residence, describing the Russian accusations as a "lie" intended to cover up the Kremlin's intentions to launch new waves of violent attacks on the capital, Kyiv, and other Ukrainian cities. Zelenskyy pointed out that the timing of these accusations was not coincidental, coming the day after his strategic meeting with Donald Trump in Florida, which the Ukrainian side interprets as a Russian attempt to muddy the waters and derail the ongoing security guarantees and negotiations.
Trump reveals the reasons behind Putin's anger
In a related development, US President Donald Trump commented on the incident, explaining that he had received a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was "very angry" about the alleged attack. Trump relayed Putin's strong displeasure, but the US president remarked that "this is not the time to do something like this," alluding to the sensitivity of the current situation, which is witnessing intensive efforts to end the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.
The repercussions of the incident on the course of negotiations
These developments are particularly significant given their timing; intensive diplomatic negotiations have been underway behind the scenes since last November. Observers believe that the exchange of accusations regarding the targeting of leadership figures represents a dangerous escalation that could shatter the fragile bridges of trust that mediators are trying to build. Historically, attempts to target heads of state are considered a "red line" in international conflicts, often leading to ill-considered military responses—a scenario the international community fears at present, as Western powers seek to de-escalate tensions rather than ignite them.
