The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has concluded that Ukraine was not attempting to strike a residence used by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent drone incident in northern Russia, according to US officials. This assessment directly contradicts claims Putin reportedly made to former US President Donald Trump during a phone conversation earlier in the week.
Sources disclosed that CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed Trump on the intelligence findings on Wednesday, casting doubt on Russia’s public assertion that Ukraine had targeted Putin’s residence. Putin had personally conveyed the allegation to Trump during their call.
After the conversation, Trump told reporters he was disturbed by the claim, saying he was unhappy about the alleged incident and described himself as “very angry” after hearing Putin’s version of events. Although he acknowledged that the claim could be untrue, Trump initially suggested he was inclined to take Putin at his word.
However, officials said Ratcliffe later clarified that US intelligence agencies did not believe Ukraine had targeted Putin’s residence. By Wednesday, Trump appeared more doubtful, sharing a New York Post editorial on Truth Social titled, “Putin ‘attack’ bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace.”
The editorial argued that Moscow had failed to present any evidence supporting its claim and highlighted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had firmly denied involvement in such an attack. It suggested the allegation was likely fabricated and criticised Russia for expecting the international community to accept its narrative without proof.
The controversy comes at a sensitive moment, as Trump and his representatives continue diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Putin reportedly raised the allegation shortly after Trump met with Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago, a meeting that left Trump reportedly hopeful about the possibility of peace negotiations.
Some European officials believe the claim may have been designed to disrupt ongoing peace initiatives without directly drawing Trump’s criticism. Others have also expressed doubt. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the allegation as a “deliberate distraction.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that 91 drones were launched from northern Ukraine toward an area near Valdai in the Novgorod region, where Putin is said to have a residence. The ministry stated that more than half of the drones were intercepted hundreds of kilometres away, while the remaining ones were downed over Novgorod between 3:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. local time on Monday.
The ministry did not clarify how it determined that the drones were heading toward Valdai, though it released a map it said illustrated the drones’ flight paths and interception locations.
