Overview
- Moscow alleges Ukrainian drones targeted Putin’s Waldai/Novgorod residence and signals a tougher negotiating stance, as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warns of retaliation.
- President Trump said he was "very angry" after hearing the claim directly from Vladimir Putin but acknowledged that U.S. intelligence has not confirmed any attack.
- The U.S. ambassador to NATO said it remains unclear whether a strike occurred and indicated conclusions await intelligence assessments.
- Ukraine rejected the accusation as a pretext to undercut diplomacy and confirmed talks with partners: national security advisers on Jan. 3 in Ukraine and a leaders’ meeting on Jan. 6 with U.S. participation expected.
- Independent analysts, including ISW, report no typical evidence such as debris, fires or open‑source traces, leaving the Kremlin’s account without publicly verifiable proof.