(Reuters) -Russia accused the United States on Thursday of being behind what it says was a drone attack on the Kremlin intended to kill President Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the allegation in a briefing to reporters, saying Washington should be aware that Russia knew it was selecting the targets and Ukraine was merely implementing U.S. plans. He did not provide any evidence to support the claim of U.S. involvement.
Ukraine has denied involvement in the incident in the early hours of Wednesday, when video footage showed two flying objects approaching the Kremlin and one exploding with a bright flash.
“Attempts to disown this, both in Kyiv and in Washington, are, of course, absolutely ridiculous. We know very well that decisions about such actions, about such terrorist attacks, are made not in Kyiv but in Washington,” Peskov said.
He alleged that the United States often selected both the targets for Ukraine to attack, and the means to attack them.
“This is also often dictated from across the ocean. We know this well and are aware of this … In Washington they must clearly understand that we know this.”
The Kremlin has said it reserves the right to retaliate, but has not said what form this might take.
Peskov said Russia had several options and the response, when it came, would be carefully considered and balanced. He said an urgent investigation was under way, but could not say when the results would be known.
(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan, Editing by Kevin Liffey)
