In a significant development, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has assessed that Ukraine was not targeting a residence used by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent drone attack in northern Russia. This assessment directly contradicts a claim made by Putin himself in a phone call with former US President Donald Trump.
Intelligence Briefing Undercuts Russian Narrative
According to US officials, CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed Trump on the agency's findings on Wednesday, January 1, 2026. The briefing effectively undercut Russia's public allegation that Ukraine had attempted to strike Putin's personal residence. Putin had personally relayed this claim to Trump during their phone conversation on Monday.
Following that call, Trump expressed concern to reporters, stating he was "troubled" by the allegation. "I don't like it. It's not good," he said, describing himself as "very angry" after hearing Putin's account. While he acknowledged it was "possible" the claim was false, Trump initially indicated he was inclined to believe the Russian leader.
A Shift in Tone and Skeptical Reactions
However, after Director Ratcliffe's intelligence briefing, Trump's tone appeared to shift. On Wednesday, he shared a New York Post editorial on his Truth Social platform titled, "Putin 'attack' bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace."
The editorial argued that Russia had provided no evidence to support its serious claim and noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had strongly denied any such attack. It described the allegation as likely fabricated and criticized Moscow's insistence that the public should accept its version of events without proof.
Skepticism was not limited to the US. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the Russian allegation as a "deliberate distraction." Some European officials believe the claim was strategically intended to derail ongoing peace efforts without directly provoking criticism from Trump.
The Russian Claim and Ongoing Peace Efforts
Russia's Defence Ministry had claimed that 91 drones were launched from northern Ukraine toward Putin's residence near Valdai in the Novgorod region. The ministry stated that more than half were intercepted hundreds of kilometers away, while the rest were brought down over Novgorod between 3 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. local time on Monday.
While the ministry released a map it said showed the drones' flight paths and interception points, it did not explain how it determined the drones were specifically headed for Valdai.
This disputed claim comes amid intense diplomatic efforts led by Trump and his envoys to end the war in Ukraine. Putin raised the allegation shortly after Trump met with President Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago, a meeting that had reportedly left the former US president optimistic about prospects for peace talks.
The CIA's assessment now casts serious doubt on the Russian narrative, suggesting the incident may have been used as a political tool rather than representing a genuine escalation by Ukraine.
