Moscow: Russia has accused Ukraine of orchestrating a 'provocation' aimed at disrupting the forthcoming summit between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska scheduled for Friday. The Russian Defense Ministry claims that Ukraine is planning an airstrike on a densely populated residential area or hospital, with the intent of creating a negative media backdrop to hinder Russian-American cooperation on resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Defense Ministry's statement is based on 'available information received through several channels.' It alleges that a group of foreign media journalists was transported to the city of Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region by vehicles belonging to Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on Monday, August 11. The ministry further suggested that similar 'provocations' could occur in other settlements.

Ukrainian officials have yet to respond to these allegations. The upcoming summit in Alaska marks the first direct meeting between Russian and U.S. leaders since the onset of the Ukraine war, which is approaching its three-and-a-half-year mark. The discussions are anticipated to focus on strategies for ending the ongoing conflict.