The EU's top diplomat has called Moscow's claims that Ukraine targeted Russian government sites a deliberate distraction and an attempt to derail the peace process.

Kaja Kallas' comments on social media appear to be a reference to the Kremlin's allegation that Ukraine attempted a drone strike on one of Vladimir Putin's residences.

No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine's infrastructure and civilians, Kallas wrote on social media.

Earlier this week, Moscow accused Ukraine of targeting Putin's private home on Lake Valdai in north-west Russia.

Russia would review its position in the ongoing peace negotiations as a result, the Kremlin said.

Since Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov first shared the claims, Russian state media and politicians have discussed the alleged attack in increasingly incendiary tones.

The attack is a strike on the heart of Russia, said Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian parliament's defence committee. After what [Ukraine] has done, there can be no forgiveness.

Although the Kremlin initially said it saw no point in sharing proof of the alleged attack, on Wednesday the Russian army released what it said was evidence of the attempted strike.

It included a map allegedly showing that the drones were launched from the Sumy and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine, along with a video of a downed drone and an individual claiming it was a Ukrainian Chaklun drone.

However, the BBC hasn't been able to verify the footage, and it is not possible to determine its exact location.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied the accusations, linking them to the ongoing peace negotiations facilitated by the United States.

While the claims about the drone attack on Putin's residence grow, Zelensky warns that they might encourage further strikes on Ukrainian cities.

As 2026 dawns, hopes for peace negotiations linger, though skepticism remains regarding Russia's willingness to engage sincerely in dialogue, particularly in light of the ongoing tensions heightened by these allegations.