“I’m Very Angry”: Trump Reacts to Putin’s Claim of Ukrainian Drone Attack on Residence

US President Donald Trump has said he is “very angry” after Russian President Vladimir Putin told him that a swarm of Ukrainian drones allegedly attempted to target one of his residences. The claim, made amid heightened military and diplomatic tensions, has been firmly denied by Ukraine, which dismissed the allegation as disinformation.

Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters ahead of a scheduled meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. According to Trump, Putin raised the alleged drone attack during a phone call earlier in the day.

“You know who told me about it? President Putin, early in the morning. He said he was attacked,” Trump said. “It’s no good. I’m very angry.” However, the US President also acknowledged uncertainty around the claim, adding that it was “possible” the alleged attack had not actually occurred.

Trump stressed that even the suggestion of an attack on a leader’s residence was deeply concerning, particularly at a time when diplomatic efforts remain fragile. “It’s one thing to be offensive because they’re offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that,” he said.

Russia Alleges Drone Strike, Ukraine Rejects Claim

The remarks followed statements by Sergei Lavrov, who accused Ukraine of attempting to strike Putin’s residence in Russia’s Novgorod region, west of Moscow. Lavrov claimed that as many as 91 long-range drones were launched over December 28 and 29, all of which were intercepted by Russian air defence systems.

Ukrainian officials swiftly rejected the allegations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the claim as “another round of lies from the Russian Federation,” reiterating Kyiv’s position that Moscow routinely uses such accusations to shape narratives around the war.

If substantiated, the alleged incident would represent a serious escalation in the conflict, raising questions about the security of senior leadership and the risks of further retaliation.

Trump’s Back-to-Back Calls With Moscow and Kyiv

The development comes as Trump has intensified direct engagement with both sides of the conflict. He confirmed that he spoke with Putin twice within a 24-hour period, a day after holding discussions with Zelenskyy. Despite the controversy surrounding the alleged drone attack, Trump described his conversation with the Russian leader as constructive.

“It was a very productive talk,” Trump said, acknowledging that there were “very thorny issues” still to be resolved. He added that progress toward peace remained possible if those challenges could be addressed. “If we get them resolved, you can have peace,” he said.

Trump also revealed that discussions with Zelenskyy had brought the parties “very close” to an agreement, though sensitive territorial questions continue to complicate negotiations.

Conflict Continues on the Ground

Even as diplomatic efforts persist, the situation on the battlefield remains tense. Putin struck a defiant tone on Monday, instructing Russian forces to intensify efforts to gain full control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The Kremlin has also reiterated demands that Ukrainian forces withdraw from remaining areas of eastern Ukraine under their control.

The alleged drone incident, disputed by Kyiv and cautiously addressed by Trump, underscores the volatility of the current moment. With military actions continuing alongside fragile peace talks, any unverified claim carries the potential to derail negotiations and further inflame tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.