Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the alleged incident targeting the residence of the Russian president, describing it as alarming and highly reprehensible. He said such acts posed a serious threat to global peace, security and regional stability.
In a statement, the prime minister expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Russian president, government and people, reiterating that Pakistan rejected all forms of violence, attacks and aggressive actions. Emphasising dialogue and peaceful means as the only way forward, he said Pakistan would continue to support international efforts aimed at promoting global peace and security.
Meanwhile, Ukraine firmly rejected Russia’s 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 diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov alleged that Ukraine launched an overnight drone attack involving 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region. Russian authorities claimed all drones were intercepted by air defence systems, with no casualties or damage reported, and did not disclose the president’s whereabouts at the time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the allegation as “typical Russian lies,” saying the claim was aimed at sabotaging peace initiatives and providing a pretext for escalating attacks on Ukraine. He said Russia itself had repeatedly targeted government buildings and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities.
In a post on social media platform X, Zelensky urged the international community not to remain silent, warning that disinformation campaigns threatened ongoing diplomatic momentum. He said Moscow was attempting to undermine progress towards a lasting peace.
In a separate statement on Telegram, Lavrov described the alleged drone incident as evidence of what he termed Kyiv’s “policy of state terrorism,” adding that Russia would reassess its negotiating stance, though it 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 Zelensky met 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, but stressed that Ukraine would require continued American support.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky said Washington appeared ready to consider tougher economic and sanctions-related measures against Russia and that the United States had proposed security guarantees for Ukraine for 15 years, with agreement said to be close.
Despite renewed diplomatic engagement, Zelensky voiced scepticism about Putin’s willingness to pursue peace, citing unresolved territorial disputes, the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the situation in the Donbas region, where Russia controls most of Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk. Moscow has previously rejected key elements of the peace proposals, underscoring the persistent divide between the two sides.