European leaders initiated crucial virtual discussions on Tuesday to address U.S.-brokered peace initiatives aimed at resolving the protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This high-level diplomatic engagement occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions following Moscow’s allegations of a drone attack targeting President Vladimir Putin’s residence—claims vehemently denied by Ukrainian authorities.
The emergency European conference, organized following preliminary talks in Berlin earlier this month, represents the first collective response since President Donald Trump’s Sunday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago. During those talks, Trump asserted that both nations were ‘closer than ever before’ to reaching a peace agreement, while acknowledging remaining obstacles.
Simultaneously, Russian and Ukrainian officials have engaged in reciprocal accusations regarding alleged attack attempts on Putin’s Valdai residence northwest of Moscow. Russian authorities claimed Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones targeting the presidential compound shortly after Trump-Zelenskyy discussions concluded, though no substantive evidence has been presented.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed the allegations as baseless, stating Russia ‘still hasn’t provided any plausible evidence’ and emphasizing Moscow’s history of fabricated claims. President Zelenskyy characterized the accusations as ‘another lie’ designed to undermine peace negotiations.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov countered that the alleged attack demonstrated Ukraine’s intention to ‘thwart President Trump’s efforts to promote peaceful resolution.’ The Institute for the Study of War observed that Russia has consistently sought to prolong negotiations while avoiding substantive concessions, potentially aiming to influence broader U.S.-Russia relations through these diplomatic channels.