Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refuted claims that his country's forces targeted an alleged residence of Vladimir Putin, accusing Russia of concocting the story to justify further bombings on Ukrainian soil and derail diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.
In a social media message, Zelensky described the Russian claim of a supposed "attack on the residence" as a "complete fabrication," intended to legitimize new aggressions, including attacks on Kyiv, and to obscure the Kremlin's unwillingness to move towards a negotiated resolution of the conflict.
"Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all the achievements of our diplomatic efforts shared with President Trump's team," Zelensky declared, emphasizing that his administration continues to collaborate with international partners to foster peace.
Zelensky stated that Ukraine avoids actions that could harm diplomacy, unlike Moscow. "This is one of the many differences between us," he noted.
The Ukrainian leader also reminded that Russia has previously attacked Kyiv, including government buildings like the Cabinet of Ministers, reinforcing, in his view, the Kremlin's pattern of aggression and manipulation of narratives to justify violence.
"The world cannot remain silent now," Zelensky warned. "We cannot allow Russia to undermine the work to achieve lasting peace."
The statements emerge amidst ongoing military and diplomatic tensions, as Ukraine insists that Moscow employs misinformation and provocations as tools to prolong the war and evade genuine commitments towards ending the conflict.
Understanding the Conflict Between Ukraine and Russia
Why does Zelensky accuse Russia of fabricating the attack story?
Zelensky accuses Russia of fabricating the attack story to justify further bombings on Ukrainian territory and to sabotage diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
What has been Russia's pattern of behavior according to Zelensky?
According to Zelensky, Russia has a pattern of aggression, including previous attacks on Kyiv and government buildings, accompanied by the manipulation of narratives to justify its violent actions.
What diplomatic efforts are being made to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict?
Ukraine, under Zelensky's leadership, is working with international partners to pursue diplomatic solutions and achieve lasting peace, despite Russia's alleged attempts to undermine such efforts.