Cyprus Times

CIA Assesses Ukraine Did Not Drone Putin's Residence. Trump Cautious.

Published January 1, 2026, 11:06
CIA Assesses Ukraine Did Not Drone Putin's Residence. Trump Cautious.

The CIA assesses that Ukraine was not behind the recent drone attack on a residence used by Russian President Vladimir Putin, contrary to the claim made by Putin himself to US President Donald Trump. CIA Director John Ratcliffe informed Trump that there is no evidence to support the attack or the targeting of the presidential residence. Putin had asserted that Ukraine attempted to strike his residence, which Trump initially mentioned to reporters, expressing his concern. However, after being briefed by the CIA, Trump adopted a more cautious stance, posting an opinion article questioning the credibility of Putin's claim. The New York Post article characterized Putin's complaints about violence near him after years of war as “hypocritical,” while emphasizing the lack of evidence for the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had categorically denied the claim, and the Kremlin could not provide any supporting evidence. The revelation of the US assessment comes during a period of intense diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Some European officials believe that Putin's complaint may have been an attempt to undermine peace initiatives without directly disrupting his relationship with Trump. The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, described the claim as a “deliberate distraction.”