Russia accuses Ukraine of preparing ‘false flag’ attack to derail Friday’s Putin–Trump summit in Alaska

Russia’s Defense Ministry alleged Tuesday that Ukraine is preparing a “false flag” attack to sabotage upcoming peace talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.

The ministry claimed — without providing evidence or naming its sources — that Ukraine’s Security Service recently brought Western journalists to the city of Chuguev outside Kharkiv under the pretense of reporting on life near the frontlines. Russia’s military claims that Ukraine plans to stage a drone and missile attack on civilian targets before the summit and then blame Moscow for the casualties “to create negative publicity” and derail U.S.-Russian negotiations.

The accusation comes as both sides prepare for what could be a pivotal moment in the three-and-a-half-year conflict. Trump has suggested that any peace deal would likely involve territorial “swaps” between the two countries, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected ceding any territory to Russia. In what appears to be an effort to manage expectations, the Trump administration has described the Alaska meeting as a ”listening exercise” for Trump rather than formal negotiations.