Former U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin of thwarting peace efforts by spreading what he termed a falsehood about an alleged Ukrainian attack on his residence. According to Trump and officials in Kyiv, this narrative lacks evidence and is a ploy to justify the ongoing war.
As reported by the New York Post, this accusation follows the Kremlin's claims of a supposed drone attack, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vehemently denied. Even Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov acknowledged that Russia could not provide proof of the incident, urging the media to trust the official account—a stance dismissed by numerous analysts and Western media outlets.
Trump argues that these types of stories are part of a recurring Moscow strategy to disrupt any genuine diplomatic efforts. "Putin was offered a pathway to peace and rejected it again," sources close to Trump told the publication, highlighting previous de-escalation attempts that failed due to the Kremlin's unwillingness.
The criticisms come amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Over the Christmas period alone, Russia launched more than 130 drones targeting Kyiv and other cities, resulting in the deaths of at least seven civilians and damaging critical infrastructure, including residential buildings and power plants.
In the United States, Trump and various opinion sectors contend that it is "hypocritical" for the Kremlin to express outrage over an unverified attack, given Russia's systematic bombardment of civilian areas, accusations of abducting Ukrainian children, torturing and executing prisoners of war, and multiple attempts to assassinate Zelensky.
Beyond Ukraine, Trump points out that Russia has become a global actor opposed to U.S. interests, supporting sanctioned regimes like Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea, while hindering American operations on various fronts.
Trump's message is unequivocal: Putin is not a reliable partner for peace, and his war—framed as a "special military operation"—continues to be built on lies intended to perpetuate the conflict and obstruct any genuine diplomatic progress.
Key Questions about Trump's Accusations against Putin
What did Trump accuse Putin of regarding the peace process?
Trump accused Putin of obstructing peace by spreading a false narrative about an alleged Ukrainian attack on his residence to justify ongoing hostilities.
How did the Kremlin respond to the alleged attack on Putin's residence?
The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, admitted it could not provide evidence of the incident and asked the media to accept the official version, which was widely questioned by analysts and Western media.