Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep concern over reports of an attempted attack on the official residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the most viable path to ending the prolonged conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Prime Minister underscored the need for restraint at a time when international efforts are underway to bring hostilities to an end.

“Deeply concerned by reports of the targeting of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Ongoing diplomatic efforts offer the most viable path toward ending hostilities and achieving peace. We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any actions that could undermine them,” PM Modi said.

The statement followed claims by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Ukraine had launched a large-scale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack targeting President Putin’s state residence in Russia’s Novgorod region during the early hours of December 29. According to Russian officials, the attack involved 91 long-range strike drones.

Lavrov described the incident as a “terrorist attack” by the Kyiv government, adding that all drones were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defence systems. He said there were no reports of casualties or damage to the residence or surrounding infrastructure. Russia, Lavrov warned, would respond to what it views as a direct escalation.

The reported incident comes at a sensitive moment, as diplomatic channels involving major global powers appear to be gaining momentum. Russian authorities noted that discussions aimed at resolving the nearly three-year-long conflict have intensified in recent weeks.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump confirmed that he had held a “good” and “very productive” telephonic conversation with President Putin on Sunday. The call reportedly took place ahead of Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where the latest draft of a peace proposal was discussed.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later confirmed the Trump-Putin conversation, while Trump publicly expressed optimism about the prospects of ending the war.

“We’ve done very well. We’ve had discussions on just about every subject,” Trump told reporters, adding that both sides had “made a lot of progress on ending that war.”

Trump also described his meeting with Zelensky as “terrific,” claiming peace negotiations were “very close” to yielding results.

India has consistently maintained a balanced and dialogue-driven position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to diplomacy. PM Modi’s latest remarks align with New Delhi’s long-standing emphasis on peaceful resolution, respect for sovereignty, and global stability.

As tensions remain high on the battlefield, India’s call for restraint and sustained diplomatic engagement reflects growing international concern that further escalation could undermine fragile peace efforts currently underway.