This video explores the high-stakes diplomatic "whiplash" that occurred in the final days of 2025, after President Donald Trump was forced to walk back his initial outrage over an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on Vladimir Putin’s private residence.
The controversy began on December 29, 2025, when the Kremlin claimed that Ukraine had launched a swarm of 91 drones at Putin’s state residence in Valdai (the Novgorod region). Putin personally conveyed this to Trump during a phone call, leading the President to tell reporters he was "very angry" about the alleged incident. However, by January 4, 2026, after a deep dive by U.S. intelligence, the White House officially pivoted, with Trump declaring: "I don't believe that strike happened."
Inside the Video:
The Putin Phone Call: Hear the details of the "positive" yet tense call where Putin informed Trump of the "assassination attempt," prompting the President's initial "very angry" reaction.
The Intelligence Pivot: How the CIA and U.S. national security officials determined that no drones ever targeted the Valdai residence, contradicting the Kremlin’s map of flight paths.
The "Bluster" Editorial: A look at why Trump shared a scathing New York Post editorial on Truth Social that accused Putin of using "lies and hatred" to sabotage the 2026 peace framework.
Zelenskyy’s Denial: Why the Ukrainian President immediately branded the story a "complete fabrication" during his high-stakes meeting with Trump in Florida.
The Novgorod Mystery: While the residence wasn't hit, U.S. officials admit "something" happened nearby—likely a strike on a distant military facility—which Russia allegedly used as a pretext for a "false flag" narrative.
This incident has raised fresh questions about the administration's reliance on direct communication with the Kremlin and how "fake news" on the battlefield is being used to manipulate the 2026 peace negotiations.
