US NATO envoy casts doubt on Russian claim that Ukraine attacked Putin’s residence

Summary

• US ambassador Matthew Whitaker questions Russia's claim of a Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence, awaiting US intelligence confirmation.
• Ukraine denies the attack, calling it a "complete fabrication" to justify further Russian aggression and avoid peace talks.
• Trump claims Putin told him of the attack and expressed anger, but the White House and intelligence agencies remain tight-lipped.

WASHINGTON - US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker cast doubt on Dec 30 on Russia’s accusation that Ukraine attacked President Vladimir Putin’s residence, saying he wants to see US intelligence on the incident.

“It is unclear whether it actually happened,” Mr Whitaker told Fox Business’ Varney And Co, in an interview about an alleged incident which Ukraine has denied.

“It seems to me a little indelicate to be this close at a peace deal, Ukraine really wanting to get a peace deal done, and then to do something that would be viewed as reckless or not helpful,” he said.

Russia said on Dec 29 that Ukraine had attacked a presidential residence in the Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones. It said it would retaliate and that its negotiating stance would toughen in the talks.

Ukraine called Russia’s accusations “lies” aimed at justifying more attacks on Ukraine,
and its foreign minister said on Dec 30 that Russia had not provided any evidence “because there’s none.”

US President Donald Trump said on Dec 29 that Mr Putin told him in a phone call that Ukraine tried to attack the residence. Mr Trump said he was “very angry” about it.
Asked if there was evidence of such an attack, Mr Trump said, “We’ll find out.”

The White House declined further comment on the alleged incident, while officials from the US intelligence community have been close-lipped about the incident.

The CIA declined to comment.

“We’re going to get to the bottom of the intelligence. And for me, the most important thing is what the United States and our allies’ intelligence services say about whether or not this attack actually happened,” Mr Whitaker said.

After a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Florida on Dec 28, Mr Trump said he and Mr Zelensky were “maybe very close” to an agreement
to end the war although the most contentious territorial issues lingered.

Mr Zelenskiy said earlier on Dec 30: “This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies.”

Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, controls just under a fifth of its neighbour’s territory and says its troops are advancing. REUTERS