Russia’s claim that Ukraine launched aerial attack drones at President Vladimir Putin’s Moscow residence follows a familiar pattern of false Kremlin claims. This latest one surfaced as United States and Ukrainian officials reported progress in peace negotiations. Moscow is using the purported attack to cite new grounds for revising its negotiating position.

Ukraine quickly rejected the allegation, with President Volodymyr Zelensky describing it as fabricated. Moreover, Moscow has offered no evidence to support its claim. But even if one were to accept, for the sake of argument, that Ukrainian drones did target the Russian president, Russia’s display of outrage would still ring hollow.