'If True, it’s Serious': Trump Reacts To Putin’s Charge of Ukraine Drone Attack

Washington: US President Donald Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him over the phone that Ukrainian drones were sent towards one of his residences. Trump says that in the call, Putin called it a serious incident and said that it feels like a personal attack. Trump clearly said that he does not know how true this claim is, so he will wait for information before reaching any conclusion.

How did Trump react for the first time?

He told this to the media before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Trump said that targeting any leader's house can be a dangerous sign. He also said that the situation is still delicate; hence, any such action can worsen the atmosphere further.

Which incident is Russia talking about?

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that on the night of 28 and 29 December, more than 90 drones were sent towards a residence of Putin in the Novgorod area. According to Russian officials, all the drones were downed by the defense system, and there was no damage.

Why did Ukraine reject the claim?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called this claim baseless. He says that Russia wants to change the atmosphere according to its own by making such allegations again and again. Zelensky said that he is not involved in any such attack and it is just a matter of fabricating a story.

Why is the conversation between Trump and Putin under discussion?

Trump said that this was his second conversation with Putin in 24 hours. He had also met Zelensky a day earlier. He said both the meetings and calls focused on difficult issues. He believes that if solutions are found on some important points, then talks can move forward, but the path is not easy.

Now what's next?

If the drone incident turns out to be true, it may further increase tension. If proven false, questions will be raised on Russia's intentions. In both the situations, the situation is sensitive. For this reason, efforts for dialogue and mediation are going on at the international level, but at present no clear solution is visible.