Spat dominates US-led peace bid

RUSSIA overshadowed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine as Moscow doubled down on claims that Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops had attacked a residence of Vladimir Putin.

- BY FRANCES MILLAR

European and Canadian leaders held virtual talks yesterday about US-led peace plans.

After the talks Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said “peace is on the horizon” but is “far from a 100% certainty”.

German leader Friedrich Merz added: “We are advancing the peace process. Transparency and honesty are needed from everyone — including from Russia.”

It was the first European leaders’ meeting since US president Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at his Florida resort on Sunday.

Russia claimed Ukraine had launched 91 long-range drones at a lakeside residence used by Putin in northwestern Russia at the time of the Florida talks.

Ukraine denied the claim and said there was no evidence for it.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the alleged strike a “terrorist attack” aimed at collapsing the peace negotiations, claiming it was not just directed at the Russian president “but also against Trump”.

Evidence

He said: “It is aimed at disrupting President Trump’s efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian conflict.”