The Kremlin accused Ukraine of an attack on property tied to President Putin and vowed to escalate military action, undermining hopes for a negotiated peace reached after talks at Mar‑a‑Lago. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy described their meeting as constructive, but major gaps remain — especially over Donbas, where roughly 15% remains under Ukrainian control. Zelenskyy insists Russia must be pressured into diplomacy and any territorial concessions would require a Ukrainian referendum; Moscow continues to demand full control of Donbas.
Kremlin Threatens Escalation After Alleged Attack on Putin — Mar‑a‑Lago Peace Push Stalls
The Kremlin on Monday vowed to intensify military action after accusing Kyiv of a "terroristic attack" on property linked to President Vladimir Putin, a development that dealt a blow to hopes for a negotiated settlement a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was close to securing a peace deal.
Allegation, Reaction and Renewed Tensions
Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to President Putin, warned Monday that an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian president's property would prompt "the most serious response." Ushakov said Mr. Putin notified Mr. Trump of the incident by phone that morning. Kyiv denies responsibility for an attack on Putin himself; Ukrainian officials and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Kremlin's claim a fabrication intended to justify further strikes on Ukraine.
"This is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine," Mr. Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that Moscow uses "typical lying tactics" and has already struck Kyiv, including the Cabinet of Ministers building.
Mar‑a‑Lago Talks: Optimism, But Few Concessions
On Sunday, Mr. Trump met Mr. Zelenskyy at Mar‑a‑Lago for roughly two hours and described the meeting as constructive, saying progress had been made toward a 20‑point peace plan and U.S. security guarantees. The White House pointed reporters to a social post from press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying, "President Trump has concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine."
Mr. Trump said he "heard" about the reported incident but lacked details. He expressed anger at the idea of an "offensive" attack by Ukraine and warned such actions could jeopardize the peace talks. He also repeatedly suggested — without providing evidence — that Mr. Putin "wants to see [the war] ended" and could help with postwar reconstruction.
Mr. Zelenskyy, visibly skeptical, reacted with a mixture of amusement and frustration when Mr. Trump suggested Russia would help rebuild Ukraine. He stressed that any peace plan involving territorial concessions would require a Ukrainian referendum and raised doubts about Russia agreeing to a 60‑day ceasefire long enough to permit a public vote.
The Core Dispute: Donbas
The most intractable issue remains the fate of Donbas. Roughly 15 percent of that strategic eastern region remains under Ukrainian control. Russia insists full transfer of Donbas is a prerequisite for any peace deal; Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov reiterated Monday that Moscow would require total control of the region. Ukraine has consistently rejected ceding the territory and has proposed either retaining sovereignty over the remaining area or converting it into a demilitarized "free economic zone."
International Response And Implications
European diplomats and Ukrainian officials voiced concern that Mr. Trump's publicly sympathetic comments toward Mr. Putin could limit pressure on Moscow and undermine leverage in negotiations. One anonymous European official said any progress was welcome but warned the "bar is really low" for judging the talks successful and criticized what the official described as Mr. Trump's naive posture toward Mr. Putin.
Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles was quoted in Vanity Fair as saying the president privately believes Mr. Putin wants control of the whole country, a view at odds with his public statements that Putin wants peace. Mr. Trump declined to outline steps he would take to increase pressure on Russia if negotiations falter and conceded the grim possibility that the war could continue with potentially millions more casualties.
Outlook
The alleged attack and Moscow's immediate vow to escalate underscore how fragile any momentum toward diplomacy remains. With Donbas unresolved and mutual distrust high, observers say meaningful progress will require clear, sustained pressure on Russia, credible security guarantees for Ukraine, and transparent proposals that respect Ukrainian democratic processes — including any referendum on territorial concessions.
Key figures cited: Yuri Ushakov, Dmitriy Peskov, Karoline Leavitt, Susie Wiles, Kira Rudik, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump.
