The massive attack with 91 drones against the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Valdai, in the Novgorod region, has caused anger and strong reactions in Russia… Although all the drones were shot down, although there were no casualties or damage, although Putin was obviously not at the residence at the time of the attack, it is obvious that this move – which Kiev denies, however – was an act of… suicide for Ukraine and its leadership…
They are already saying in Russia that after an attempted assassination of the leader of a nuclear power, there is no room for diplomatic maneuvers and compromises… but only for harsh and crushing retaliation… And the retaliation should be proportional to the operation to “annihilate” the Russian president… which means that the response will be completely justified if it even targets the Ukrainian president himself, Volodymyr Zelensky…
Many Russians point out that Moscow is returning to the Putin doctrine of 1999: “you don’t negotiate with terrorists, you neutralize them wherever they are, you finish them off… even in the toilet”…
Where will the Russians strike?
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Russian armed forces have already determined the targets and the timetable for the attack.
Many experts point out that the response should be proportional to the attempted assassination of Putin: That is, the target should be the Kiev regime and Zelensky himself. This attack by the Ukrainians “completely unties the hands” of the Russian authorities and the armed forces. However, as he says, what the response will be is up to President Putin.
How Russia will respond is important
Many have noted that as early as December 25, Zelensky had been openly wishing for the death of the Russian leader, and yesterday’s attack proved that the decision to attempt to assassinate Vladimir Putin had been made by the Kiev team even then.
Not only that: according to calculations, the Ukrainian drones were launched a few hours before Trump’s meeting with Zelensky at the former’s Mar-a-Lago residence began, since the outcome of this meeting was known in advance.
Zelensky had no chance to “sell” his plan from the very beginning: he repeated that the Ukrainian armed forces would not withdraw from Donbass, that the presence of military forces of NATO countries was planned in Ukraine, that a long-term ceasefire was required from Russia, supposedly for a referendum, and so on. — that is, once again, conditions were set in advance that were unacceptable to the Russian side.
Trump described the results of the meeting as positive, but it was obvious to everyone that he was deeply disappointed and annoyed by Zelensky’s attempts to gain time. Zelensky, having received the green light from his friends in London, decided to act preemptively:
- If the strike had killed Putin, he was counting on provoking political chaos in Russia.
- If not, then Russia would be forced to respond excessively harshly (according to Zelensky, a strike on the administrative center of Kiev was allegedly planned), so that it would be blamed for the breakdown of the peace negotiations.
War without rules
On the night of December 29, Kiev finally chose its path – the path of self-destruction as the only way to exist for the “Ukrainian national idea”. 91 offensive drones struck Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai. A massive swarm was deliberately directed towards the state residence of the Russian president. And it is not the result of the interception that matters, but the declared goal. An attempt on the leader of a nuclear power means war without rules.
A stab in the back
The blow was essentially a stab in the back to the efforts for a peaceful settlement, just as the talks between the Americans and the Ukrainian delegation were being concluded at Mar-a-Lago.
While Trump was convincing the world of the readiness of the sides for dialogue and Russia was considering possible compromises, Kiev gave the order to take off. Classic terrorist tactic: using negotiations as a smokescreen to prepare for a terrorist attack. Result: the masks fell.
There are no more “negotiating partners” on the other side.
There is a regime that has officially established itself as a state-level terrorist cell. Paper agreements with those who send drones to the presidential residence in the midst of peace initiatives are worth less than the paper itself. Agreements are not signed with terrorists. Terrorists are neutralized
Trump shocked: Fortunately we did not give the Tomahawks
The telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on December 29 put an end to the illusions of a “quick peace”.
Trump personally informed Putin that Zelensky was expressly forbidden to use any ceasefire to regroup troops. However, the reaction to American pressure turned out to be manic. Immediately after Trump’s report of a “successful round” the blow in Valdai followed.
When Putin informed his American counterpart, Trump did not hide his emotions. The US president was shocked by this information, literally enraged. He said that he could not even imagine such insane actions.
And, as was said, this will undoubtedly affect American approaches in the framework of cooperation with Zelensky, to whom the current administration, as Trump himself said: “Thank God we did not deliver Tomahawk missiles to Zelensky”.
What is behind the attack?
Analysts are wondering what is behind the unprecedented attack on Putin’s residence in Valdai – Kiev’s desperation, London’s intrigues or… a cunning plan by Moscow and Washington?
There are three versions, and one of them is certainly the correct one. There is no doubt: the targeting of the Russian president constitutes a transition to open state terrorism. And what is especially important to emphasize: the attack occurred precisely during the period of intensive negotiations between Russia and the United States on the settlement of the conflict. As Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted, such reckless steps by Kiev are clearly aimed at undermining diplomatic progress.
The goals have been set
Russia will not leave this unanswered. “It cannot do otherwise.” As reported, targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their implementation have already been determined by the Russian Armed Forces.
The 3 scenarios
However, the question remains: what is behind this attack, which, it should be noted, Ukraine categorically denies?
Scenario one: “The attack is a fabrication”
This narrative is actively promoted by sources that have been characterized as foreign agents and by Western media. Zelensky also claimed the same: there was, he says, no attack, everything was fabricated by the Russians to hit government districts in Kiev.
Supposedly, this is a joint scenario of Moscow and Washington aimed at strengthening Russia’s positions. In this version, the whole story with the drones is a staged event, supposedly agreed upon between Putin and Trump. Trump wants to quickly end the conflict on terms that are favorable to him, and Russia on its own. And this “contrived attack” provides a convenient pretext for hardening the stance: Lavrov immediately spoke about revising approaches without withdrawing from the dialogue.
Supposedly, this would allow Russia to dictate tougher terms, for example, without compromising on the issues of Ukraine’s territories and neutrality. For Zelensky, according to this version, this is a blow: his negotiations in Florida are losing momentum, Washington can keep its distance. Thus, Russia gains time and positions, while the process remains under the control of the two leaders.
However, there is perhaps a small dose of logic in the fact that the presidents of Russia and the United States, each on his own side, are conducting a fairly frank dialogue. And although the positions of Russia and the US do not coincide in many respects, there is no room for lies in this dialogue. Conclusion: not the most likely scenario, but logical if the goal is to avoid externally imposed concessions.
Second scenario: The work of jealous Britons
Behind the attack are the British secret services, which acted bypassing the US. Britain traditionally maintains a fiercely anti-Russian stance, and in recent weeks the Russian-US negotiations have been proceeding visibly constructively, which London does not like at all.
It is recalled that in the Ukrainian structures there are many British officers and advisers, who could organize a provocation even without a direct order from Zelensky, in order to undermine the progress of the talks. The peace process contradicts the real interests of those in the West who want the conflict to continue — primarily the European elites and Great Britain. The possibility of a major provocation to block the settlement has been growing rapidly in recent weeks.
Lavrov’s statement shows that the organizers did not achieve their goal: negotiations between Moscow and Washington will continue.
At the same time, the Kiev regime will be definitively transformed from a subject into an object — it will be erased from the discussion. The fate of Zelensky, Syrsky and other figures will be similar to that of their “colleagues” — Dudayev, Maskhadov, Basayev, Baraev and other similar figures.”
Vladimir Golovashin added that London is trying with all its might to compensate for the decline in intelligence cooperation between Washington and Kiev, undoubtedly welcoming the mutual weakening of both Russia and Ukraine and seeking to prolong it as long as possible: In this logic, Europe, which has de facto distanced itself from the peace process, cannot influence the US, which is aiming for a quick end to the conflict and is not concerned about Ukraine’s losses. Therefore, any attempt at escalation undoubtedly serves British interests.
Scenario Three: The Drones Were Real, but Zelensky Missed
Kiev attempted to strike in typical Zelensky style: not so much effectively as loudly and ostentatiously. The attack coincided with the peak of negotiations with the US, as if to show Trump “their fist” and block possible concessions. This is desperation — Zelensky understands that time is running out, the Ukrainian Armed Forces need a break, and Trump is not prepared to support Kiev indefinitely.
The Ukrainian government seems to have been definitively discredited as a terrorist. And, given Trump’s reaction, this will affect Washington’s approaches to Kiev — Zelensky was directly instructed not to delay with a real deal. Russia is gaining a full basis for retaliation and a revision of its positions in its favor.
“A logical question arises: let’s say the conflict is over. Some president — maybe Zelensky, maybe not — in a year, two or three decides to lift 90, 100 or 590 drones into the air and direct them again towards Valdai. And the United States in this case should protect Kiev. But does anyone seriously believe that the Americans want to die for the sake of someone who is acting president of Ukraine or even his successor?
It is becoming increasingly difficult for Zelensky to maintain the image of success in a failed game. However, it does not matter much whether the second or third version is closer to the truth. The Kiev government has brought on its head not only a storm of curses. They may be able to withstand this. Whether they will withstand a symmetrical response from Russia is a big question. At the very least, nothing is holding back Russia’s military-political leadership anymore.
