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US Calls Russian Claim that Washington was Behind Drone Attack 'Ludicrous'

White House national security spokesman John Kirby. AFP
White House national security spokesman John Kirby. AFP
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US Calls Russian Claim that Washington was Behind Drone Attack 'Ludicrous'

White House national security spokesman John Kirby. AFP
White House national security spokesman John Kirby. AFP

The United States dismissed Russia's allegation on Thursday that Washington was behind what it said was a drone attack on the Kremlin, saying Moscow's assertion was a lie.

"Obviously it's a ludicrous claim," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said hours after Russia blamed the United States for what it called an attack aimed at killing President Vladimir Putin.

"The United States has nothing to do with it. We don't even know exactly what happened here, but I can assure you the United States had no role in it whatsoever," Kirby said on CNN.

According to Reuters, Kirby said the United States does not encourage or enable Ukraine to strike outside its borders, and does not endorse attacks on individual leaders. Ukraine has denied launching any drones on the Kremlin.

It was still unclear what exactly occurred at the Kremlin and the United States is still assessing the situation, Kirby said in television interviews Thursday morning.

"We still don't really know what happened," he told MSNBC.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the United States was "undoubtedly" behind the alleged attack on Wednesday, without providing evidence.

"Peskov is just lying there, pure and simple," Kirby said.

Kirby added that Putin was "the aggressor" in Ukraine and could end conflict by withdrawing from Ukraine's territory he invaded in February 2022.

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World

American Flag Raised at US Embassy in Venezuela for the 1st Time since 2019

The US flag flies at the former US embassy now housing the Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU), as the United States and interim authorities in Venezuela agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations, following Nicolas Maduro’s capture, in Caracas, Venezuela March 14, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria
The US flag flies at the former US embassy now housing the Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU), as the United States and interim authorities in Venezuela agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations, following Nicolas Maduro’s capture, in Caracas, Venezuela March 14, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria
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American Flag Raised at US Embassy in Venezuela for the 1st Time since 2019

The US flag flies at the former US embassy now housing the Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU), as the United States and interim authorities in Venezuela agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations, following Nicolas Maduro’s capture, in Caracas, Venezuela March 14, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria
The US flag flies at the former US embassy now housing the Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU), as the United States and interim authorities in Venezuela agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations, following Nicolas Maduro’s capture, in Caracas, Venezuela March 14, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

The American flag was raised Saturday over the US Embassy in Venezuela for the first time since 2019, a move that highlighted the recent shift in relations between the two countries since then President Nicolás Maduro was captured by American troops in January.

Though the flag is now waving, the building is undergoing renovations and it remains unclear when it will fully reopen.

The move comes after several statements from US President Donald Trump in support of Maduro’s successor, acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who has tried to keep negotiations open with the American government.

The flag was raised "exactly seven years after it was taken down,” the US Embassy team said in a statement published on its social media channels.

The American flag being raised drew immediate attention from local residents.

“It’s a good thing, really, what a joy,” said Caracas resident Luz Verónica López. “Other countries must come back too because that’s what we need; progress, to move forward with good relations with the rest of the world, as it should be.”

Alessandro Di Benedetto, another Caracas resident, noted the positive atmosphere among those witnessing the moment.

“I found several people here surprised and happy because today they raised the US flag at the embassy,” he said. “This is positive; this is another step.”

Despite the initiative, large chunks of Venezuelan society and the political establishment remain critics of Trump, his decision to forcefully remove Maduro from office and jail him in New York with his wife, and growing US influence in the South American country's oil industry.

World

Russia is Supplying Iran with Shahed Drones, Zelenskiy Says

FILE PHOTO: A visitor of an exhibition takes a photo of parts of an Iranian made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Shahed-131/136, which was launched on Ukrainian territories, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A visitor of an exhibition takes a photo of parts of an Iranian made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Shahed-131/136, which was launched on Ukrainian territories, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko/File Photo
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Russia is Supplying Iran with Shahed Drones, Zelenskiy Says

FILE PHOTO: A visitor of an exhibition takes a photo of parts of an Iranian made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Shahed-131/136, which was launched on Ukrainian territories, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A visitor of an exhibition takes a photo of parts of an Iranian made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Shahed-131/136, which was launched on Ukrainian territories, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko/File Photo

Russia ‌is supplying Iran with Shahed drones to use against the US and Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told CNN in an interview excerpt aired on Saturday.

Zelenskiy told CNN's Fareed Zakaria that it is "100% facts" that ‌Iran has used ‌Russian-made Shaheds ‌to attack ⁠US bases.

Shahed drones ⁠have been linked to other attacks on countries in the region, although their manufacturers are not always clear, Reuters said.

Iran pioneered the ⁠Shahed drone, a much ‌cheaper ‌alternative to expensive missiles. They first ‌saw mass use in ‌Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where thousands of them have been launched by Russian forces since fall ‌2022, according to the Ukrainians.

Although Iran initially ⁠provided ⁠the drones, Russia now manufactures its own Shaheds. The armed forces of other countries have since adopted Shahed-type drones, including the US military, which has said they are part of the current campaign against Iran.

World

Taiwan Says Large-Scale Chinese Military Flights Return After Unusual Absence

A man walks past Taiwan flags on a street amid China's "Justice Mission 2025" military drills around Taiwan, in Taipei, Taiwan December 29, 2025. (Reuters)
A man walks past Taiwan flags on a street amid China's "Justice Mission 2025" military drills around Taiwan, in Taipei, Taiwan December 29, 2025. (Reuters)
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Taiwan Says Large-Scale Chinese Military Flights Return After Unusual Absence

A man walks past Taiwan flags on a street amid China's "Justice Mission 2025" military drills around Taiwan, in Taipei, Taiwan December 29, 2025. (Reuters)
A man walks past Taiwan flags on a street amid China's "Justice Mission 2025" military drills around Taiwan, in Taipei, Taiwan December 29, 2025. (Reuters)

Taiwan on Sunday ‌reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities around the island after an unexplained absence of more than two weeks that prompted speculation in Taipei as to Beijing's motives.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, normally sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the island on a daily basis, with interruptions generally caused by bad weather.

Taiwan's defense ministry, in a daily update on Sunday morning, said it had ‌detected 26 Chinese ‌military aircraft, concentrated in the Taiwan Strait, ‌over ⁠the previous 24 ⁠hours. It last reported that many on February 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft after saying Beijing was carrying out another "joint combat readiness patrol".

From February 27, Taiwan reported no Chinese military aircraft until March 7, when it said it spotted two aircraft to Taiwan's far southwest. There ⁠have been only sporadic, small-scale incidents since ‌then.

China has provided no ‌explanation for its motives and did not respond to a further ‌request for comment on Sunday.

But China's Taiwan Affairs ‌Office late on Saturday lambasted Taiwan President Lai Ching-te for a speech that day discussing the need to boost defense spending and protect the island's democracy.

"People like Lai Ching-te should ‌not miscalculate; if they dare to take reckless risks, they will dig their own ⁠grave," an office ⁠spokesperson said in a statement.

Officials and experts in Taipei have said reasons for the disappearance of the aircraft could range from Beijing trying to recalibrate its pressure campaign ahead of US President Donald Trump's planned visit to China from March 31 to President Xi Jinping's ongoing purge of senior Chinese generals.

Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo has said that while the aircraft had gone, the Chinese warships around the island remained and China's threat had not gone away.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.