### Trump Disputes Kremlin Claims: Ukraine Did Not Target Putin's Residence in Drone Strike In a recent statement aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. national security officials have concluded that Ukraine did not target Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence during a reported drone strike. This assertion comes in the wake of claims made by the Kremlin, which suggested that Ukraine launched a drone attack on Putin's state residence in Novgorod. The allegations were made shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Trump in Florida to discuss peace negotiations regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump initially expressed concern over the Russian claims but later downplayed them after further investigation by U.S. officials [https://www.apnews.com/article/trump-putin-house-drone-attack-ukraine-7245d5585a4aaf30f3b2b6e9a7c3d89a]. ### Breakdown of the Situation: Key Segments 1. **Initial Claims by Russia**: - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of launching a wave of drones targeting Putin's residence, claiming that the Russian defense systems successfully intercepted the attack [https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/trump-rejects-claim-ukraine-attacked-putins-home_uk_695b7587e4b09f7f2fbd0ef6]. 2. **Trump's Response**: - Trump stated that U.S. officials found no evidence supporting the Kremlin's claims, asserting, "I don't believe that strike happened" [https://www.millenniumpost.in/world/ukraine-didnt-target-putin-residence-642793]. 3. **Context of the Allegations**: - The allegations arose just after Zelenskyy's visit to the U.S. for discussions on a peace plan aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has seen escalating violence, including a recent drone strike on a hospital in Kyiv [https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-war-update-drone-strike-hospital-zelensky-kyiv-11307182]. 4. **Reactions from European Officials**: - European officials have suggested that the Russian claims are an attempt to undermine peace negotiations, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict [https://www.euronews.com/2026/01/05/trump-says-ukraine-did-not-target-vladimir-putins-residence-in-novgorod-as-the-kremlin-cla]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Statements from U.S. Officials**: - Trump confirmed that U.S. intelligence had determined no attack on Putin's residence occurred, contradicting the Kremlin's narrative [https://www.cp24.com/news/world/2026/01/05/trump-says-that-ukraine-didnt-target-putin-residence-in-a-drone-strike-as-kremlin-claims]. - **Kremlin's Allegations**: - Lavrov's claims included that Ukraine had launched at least 90 drones, which were purportedly intercepted, but these assertions lack corroborative evidence from U.S. intelligence [https://www.upi.com/top_news/world-news/2026/01/05/ukraine-attack-against-putin-never-happened/7221767616706]. ### Conclusion: Summary of Findings 1. **No Evidence of Attack**: U.S. officials have found no evidence that Ukraine targeted Putin's residence, contradicting Russian claims. 2. **Diplomatic Context**: The allegations surfaced during a critical period of peace negotiations between Ukraine and the U.S., highlighting the complexities of the ongoing conflict. 3. **International Reactions**: The situation has drawn varied responses, with European officials viewing the Kremlin's claims as a potential tactic to disrupt peace efforts. In summary, the situation underscores the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with significant implications for international diplomacy and security in the region. The U.S. stance, as articulated by Trump, aims to support Ukraine while navigating the delicate balance of relations with Russia [https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/trump-rejects-claim-ukraine-attacked-putins-home_uk_695b7587e4b09f7f2fbd0ef6].