Zelensky responds to Russia's claims that Ukraine tried to kill Putin

Following allegations made by Russia that Ukraine had conducted a drone attack on the Kremlin, purportedly aimed at assassinating President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded.

According to the BBC, while on a visit to Finland, Zelensky told the press, "We don't attack Putin or Moscow. We fight on our territory. We are defending our villages and cities," reaffirming his country's position.

The main international agencies picked up the news on Wednesday, May 3: Russia accused Ukraine of having carried out an attack on the Kremlin with the aim of killing President Vladimir Putin.

As reported by the Russian state information agency RIA Novosti (and collected by Reuters), the Russian authorities maintain that there was a drone attack on Putin's presidential residence located in the Kremlin complex on the night of May 2nd.

The alleged Ukrainian drones (two devices) were intercepted and destroyed by Russian forces.

There was no damage to the Kremlin citadel and no one was injured in the attack. But Russia speaks of "attempted assassination."

Specifically, and according to what was collected by Reuters based on information from RIA Novosti, "We regard these actions as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the president's life, carried out on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 Parade, at which the presence of foreign guests is also planned ..."

And there was a disturbing addition: "The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it sees fit."

If Russia believes that Ukraine tried to assassinate Putin, is it now announcing that Zelensky may be under attack? Could it be part of a plan to eliminate the conflict that is currently taking place?

In any case, according to The New York Times, Putin was not in the Kremlin at the time of the attack, according to Dmitri S. Peskov, a Russian government spokesman.

There is no possible verification of the existence of the attack, although a video has been reported on Russian social networks that shows a column of smoke in the vicinity of the Kremlin.

From the Ukrainian side there has been no response (for the moment) to the Russian accusation.

In any case, many attacks reported on Russian territory have been attributed to Ukraine. Drone strikes reveal Ukraine's significant ability to penetrate Russian territory and would have to worry Moscow.

The death of Putin (or Zelensky) is a variable that would generate an enigmatic situation: where would the current conflict lead?

In any case, the fact that one of the parties in the conflict directly accuses another of wanting to assassinate its leader is a worrying factor for the escalation of the war.

And this incident, if true, would substantiate the fact that the Ukrainian side has turned drones into highly effective war machines.

The Ukrainians would have been able to evade anti-aircraft defenses as strong as those in Moscow (even if the aircraft were eventually shot down).

But what is really striking about the Kremlin accusation, what raises the ante, is to speak of "attempted assassination" of Putin himself. What will this accusation entail?