U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not believe reports of an alleged Ukrainian strike on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence. The White House chief made the remarks to journalists aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington from Florida on Sunday, January 4.
Trump noted that “something happened nearby” the residence, but U.S. officials did not confirm that the building itself was targeted.
“I don’t believe this strike happened,” said the U.S. president.
Earlier, Trump appeared to believe the Russian accusations and last Monday stated that he had learned about the “attack” from Putin during a phone conversation and was “very angry.”
Explaining his initial reaction, Trump said that at the time “nobody knew the facts” and that only later were U.S. officials able to verify the information.
What is Known About the Incident
Previously, Russia accused Ukraine of launching 91 drones at the residence in Russia’s Novgorod region on the night of December 29, calling it a “terrorist act” and a “personal attack” on Putin, but provided no evidence.
The allegations came shortly after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida to discuss the peace process regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine. Ukraine and its European allies rejected the claims, seeing them as an attempt by Russia to derail the negotiations.
Ukraine Not Involved
On January 1, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. national security officials had refuted Moscow’s claims of a Ukrainian drone attack on Putin’s residence.
The Ukrainian side also categorically denied involvement, calling the allegations part of a Russian disinformation campaign aimed at weakening relations between Kyiv and Washington.
Conclusion
U.S. President Donald Trump questioned the Russian accusations, confirming that Ukraine did not attack Putin’s residence. Ukraine’s firm stance and the support of its allies indicate Moscow’s attempt to use disinformation to destabilize the negotiation process.
