US national security officials have determined that Ukraine did not attempt to target Russian President Vladimir Putin or his residences in a reported drone operation, contradicting Moscow’s claims, The Wall Street Journal reported. This conclusion comes from a CIA assessment that found no evidence of any attack on Putin. The CIA declined to comment publicly. While US intelligence confirmed that Ukraine had been planning strikes on military targets in the same general area as Putin’s country residence, the locations were not near him, according to the report.

Former US President Donald Trump appeared to downplay Russia’s claims by sharing a New York Post editorial on Truth Social questioning whether the strike had occurred, calling it “bluster” that showed Russia was obstructing peace. Trump received a briefing from CIA Director John Ratcliffe on the intelligence findings.

Trump had earlier expressed anger after Putin claimed Ukrainian drones targeted his lakeside residence, Dolgiye Borody (Long Beards), though he acknowledged US intelligence had not confirmed the incident. Ukraine has admitted to some sabotage operations inside Russia but denied any attempt on Putin himself, accusing Russia of using the claim to undermine Ukraine’s position in US-mediated peace talks.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have intercepted 91 Ukrainian drones allegedly targeting Putin and released footage showing a downed drone. The allegation came shortly after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for nearly three hours to discuss peace efforts. Moscow has warned it may harden its negotiating stance following the alleged incident and has launched additional drone strikes on Ukraine’s Odessa region.

The claims drew international attention: Indian Prime Minister Modi said he was “deeply concerned,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called it “a heinous act,” and the UAE Foreign Ministry also expressed concern. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff reported discussions with security advisers from Britain, France, and Germany, as well as senior Ukrainian official Rustem Umerov, on potential security guarantees and “deconfliction mechanisms” aimed at ending the war and preventing its restart.