Moscow accuses US of being behind alleged Kremlin drone attack
Russia has accused Washington of being behind what it says was a drone attack on the Kremlin and an assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin, the latest in a series of extraordinary allegations over the incident on Wednesday.
In Washington, John Kirby, the National Security Council’s Coordinator for Strategic Communications, called the Russian accusations "ridiculous."
His remarks came after Moscow spokesperson Dmitry Peskov alleged that the US was behind the purported drone attack, and suggested the Ukrainian government was implementing decisions made in Washington.
“We are well aware that decisions on such actions and such terrorist attacks are not made in Kyiv, but in Washington. And Kyiv is already executing what it is told to do,” Peskov said on Thursday. “Such attempts to disown this both in Kyiv and in Washington are, of course, absolutely ridiculous.”
Ukraine vehemently denied responsibility for the alleged incident on Wednesday, as a series of extraordinary allegations from Moscow inflamed tensions between the two sides even further.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Russia not to intensify attacks on Ukraine after the alleged drone strike and assassination attempt on President Putin.
“We call Russia not to use this alleged attack as an excuse to continue the escalation of the war. This is what worries us,” Borrell told reporters in Brussels.
“What worries us is this can be used in order to justify more conscription of people, soldiers, more attacks on Ukraine."
Borrell added that the "only solution for the war" is to support Ukraine “militarily, politically and economically."
“The best solution for the war, the only solution for the war, is Russia stopping the attack and withdrawing their troops from Ukraine."
Peskov did not provide any evidence to his claims, nor additional details regarding the alleged attack, saying that information would be released later.
He also told journalists Putin is "calm," despite the alleged attack and assassination attempt.
“You know that in such difficult, extreme situations, the president always remains calm, collected, clear in his assessments, in the commands he gives out," he added. "Therefore, nothing changed in this regard.”
He told CNN during a call with reporters that the alleged strike damaged two of the Senate Palace’s copper sheets, which will be repaired.
His remarks came after Moscow spokesperson Dmitry Peskov alleged that the US was behind the purported drone attack, and suggested the Ukrainian government was implementing decisions made in Washington.
“We are well aware that decisions on such actions and such terrorist attacks are not made in Kyiv, but in Washington. And Kyiv is already executing what it is told to do,” Peskov said on Thursday. “Such attempts to disown this both in Kyiv and in Washington are, of course, absolutely ridiculous.”
Ukraine vehemently denied responsibility for the alleged incident on Wednesday, as a series of extraordinary allegations from Moscow inflamed tensions between the two sides even further.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Russia not to intensify attacks on Ukraine after the alleged drone strike and assassination attempt on President Putin.
“We call Russia not to use this alleged attack as an excuse to continue the escalation of the war. This is what worries us,” Borrell told reporters in Brussels.
“What worries us is this can be used in order to justify more conscription of people, soldiers, more attacks on Ukraine."
Borrell added that the "only solution for the war" is to support Ukraine “militarily, politically and economically."
“The best solution for the war, the only solution for the war, is Russia stopping the attack and withdrawing their troops from Ukraine."
Peskov did not provide any evidence to his claims, nor additional details regarding the alleged attack, saying that information would be released later.
He also told journalists Putin is "calm," despite the alleged attack and assassination attempt.
“You know that in such difficult, extreme situations, the president always remains calm, collected, clear in his assessments, in the commands he gives out," he added. "Therefore, nothing changed in this regard.”
He told CNN during a call with reporters that the alleged strike damaged two of the Senate Palace’s copper sheets, which will be repaired.
