Vladimir Putin's official residence 'struck in drone strike' as Ukraine rejects responsibility

The Ukrainian president responded within minutes, describing the claims as "another round of lies".

"This alleged 'residence strike' story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia's own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war," Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X.

The Kremlin indicated its negotiating stance would now "be revised," casting doubt over fragile peace efforts.

The drone allegations emerged just hours after Donald Trump hosted Mr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Sunday, where the American president declared a peace agreement was "closer than ever before".

During those Florida discussions, Mr Zelensky revealed he had requested security guarantees extending half a century into the future.

"I told [Mr Trump] that the war is still going on, and it has been going on for almost 15 years I told him that we would very much like to consider the possibility of 30, 40, 50 years," the Ukrainian leader explained to journalists.

A draft framework developed by Kyiv and Washington officials had proposed 15 years of protection, but Mr Zelensky pushed for significantly longer commitments.

Mr Trump indicated he "would think" about the extended timeframe.

At least 26 nations in a coalition of the willing have committed to stationing forces or military equipment in Ukraine following any peace settlement.

The future of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region represents the most significant obstacle in negotiations.

According to the Kremlin, Mr Trump and Mr Putin agreed during their telephone conversation that Kyiv must reach a decision on this matter "without delay."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday that Russia demands the "withdrawal of [Kyiv's] armed forces from Donbas beyond the administrative borders," effectively requiring Ukraine to abandon nearly a quarter of its eastern Donetsk territory.

While Mr Zelensky has shown some flexibility on territorial concessions, he maintains that any final agreement must be approved through a national referendum, as mandated by Ukraine's constitution.

The Ukrainian President insisted on Monday that a ceasefire lasting "at least 60 days" would be necessary to conduct such a vote safely.

However, Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov claimed both Trump and Putin had dismissed a temporary truce for referendum purposes, arguing it would "only prolong the conflict."

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, Europe's largest atomic power station seized by Russian forces in March 2022, remains another contentious issue.

Moscow seeks to restart the six-reactor complex and connect it to Russia's electricity grid, which faces shortfalls in certain regions.

Washington has put forward a proposal for trilateral management under American supervision, whereas the Kremlin favours joint Russian-US operation that would exclude Ukraine entirely.

Trump praised Putin on Sunday for "working with Ukraine on getting it open," noting: "He hasn't hit it with missiles."

Mr Peskov confirmed that Mr Putin would speak with the American president again "very soon" to advance discussions.

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky announced that Washington had agreed to convene European leaders in January, either at the White House or another venue.

However, Sir Keir Starmer missed a crucial meeting with the Ukraine leader yesterday following "diary pressures".