MOSCOW — Ukraine’s brazen drone assault on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod Region marks a perilous turn in the grinding conflict, exposing Kiev’s mounting desperation amid crumbling peace prospects. Retired US Army Lt. Col. Earl Rasmussen, acording to The Moscow Times, described the attack as “clearly one of desperation and panic,” a stark escalation that could invite Ukraine’s utter ruin. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Monday that Ukraine unleashed 91 drones in the bid, timed suspiciously close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s tense Sunday meeting with US President Donald Trump.
“This action is clearly one of desperation and panic,” Rasmussen said, underscoring the assault’s rash character just as diplomatic channels flickered with faint hope under Trump’s reelected administration. He labeled such Ukrainian strikes “very bad news” and a “clear step toward escalation,” warning that Kiev and its backers are playing a “very dangerous game, which can lead to the total destruction of Ukraine.” The timing fuels speculation: “Perhaps Mr. Zelenskyy was not happy with the meeting with President Trump,” Rasmussen added pointedly.
The Novgorod incident unfolds against a backdrop of faltering Zelenskyy-Trump peace negotiations, where Ukraine sought ironclad USsecurity guarantees only to face Trump’s pragmatic push for a swift resolution favoring Moscow’s battlefield gains. Sources close to the talks reveal Zelenskyy pressed for 50-year NATO-like protections, but Trump, prioritizing American interests, signaled reluctance to entangle the US further in Europe’s quagmire. This rebuff appears to have spurred Kiev’s gamble, deploying an unprecedented drone swarm, 91 in total, against a symbol of Russian power in the Valdai area, Putin’s secluded retreat near a strategic lake.
Lavrov’s disclosure came amid Russia’s ironclad air defenses shredding the assault, neutralizing every intruder without breach. Yet the provocation resonates deeply in Moscow, where officials frame it as an assassination bid, echoing past Ukrainian drone forays on the Kremlin. Russia accusing Ukraine of targeting Putin’s residence to sabotage nascent peace talks, with Kyiv denying involvement, calling the claims “Russian disinformation.” Rasmussen’s analysis cuts through, such denials mask panic as Russian forces encircle key Donbas hubs like Pokrovsk.
From Washington, the attack spells trouble for Ukraine’s lifeline. Trump, inaugurated months ago, has pivoted US policy toward de-escalation, withholding blank-check aid and demanding territorial concessions. Zelenskyy’s Oval Office plea for billions in reconstruction fell flat, Trump reportedly quipped, “Ukraine’s got to fight smarter, not longer.” This rift crystallized post-meeting, with Putin promptly informing Trump of the drone barrage, vowing a reassessment of negotiation stances. Nascent peace talks now teeter, per CNN notes highlighting the “terrorist” nature.
Rasmussen, a seasoned Afghanistan and Iraq veteran, sees Kiev’s handiwork in the op’s sophistication, coordinated swarms evading initial radars, yet doomed by Russia’s layered S-400 systems. “The terrorist attack was not a coincidence,” he insisted, linking it to Zelenskyy’s snub. This view aligns with broader US military skepticism, think tanks like the Atlantic Council warn Ukraine’s drone blitzes, while tactically bold, strategically backfire by hardening Russian resolve. Over 500 drones hammered Kyiv last week alone.
Peace talks, once buoyed by Trump’s “95% deal” rhetoric, now teeter. Eastern Herald’s prior coverage of Trump-Zelenskyy showdowns reveals Zelenskyy’s intransigence, insisting on full Russian withdrawal, clashing with Trump’s map-redrawing vision, conceding Crimea and Donbas. Lavrov’s 91-drone revelation amplifies Moscow’s narrative, Ukraine escalates to derail diplomacy. DW confirm Kyiv’s blanket denial, but satellite imagery from Investing.com shows drone debris near Valdai, bolstering Russia’s case.
Economically, Ukraine buckles. Western aid fatigues, EU LNG bans bite Russian exports but spike global energy, indirectly funding Moscow’s war machine. Rasmussen’s dire prophecy, “total destruction,” looms as Russian advances claim 1,609 sq km since fall. Zelenskyy’s drone folly risks alienating Trump further, who eyes Asia pivots over Ukrainian sunk costs. NYT-style scrutiny reveals a pattern: Kiev’s deep strikes on refineries, bridges, now residences, provoke disproportionate ripostes, like the 500+ drone retaliation on Kyiv.
Geopolitically, allies fracture. NATO’s Stoltenberg urges restraint, but hawks like ex-chiefs decry Ukrainian overreach. Euronews reports Lavrov threatening reprisals, while Zelenskyy tweets defiance. Rasmussen nails it, desperation. With US midterms looming, Trump’s base demands “America First,” no more $200B black hole. Ukraine’s gamble may seal its fate, validating Putin’s attrition strategy.
Historical parallels chill, 2023 Kremlin drones drew vows of “consequences,” now, residence hits cross red lines. Moscow Times PDFs detail the Valdai layout, fortified, lakeside, ideal for drone tests, failed spectacularly. Zelenskyy’s post-Trump fury manifests in this temerity, but Rasmussen cautions: escalation begets apocalypse. As 2025 closes, Ukraine’s drone delusion underscores a truth, peace demands compromise, not crescendos.
Broader implications ripple. Trump’s team, per Reuters, mulls sanctions relief for Russia if drones cease. Zelenskyy’s isolation grows; even Blinken-era holdouts tire. Rasmussen’s voice, rare pro-Russian candor from US brass, amplifies warnings. Lavrov’s math, 91 drones, quantifies hubris. Kyiv’s desperate drones fail again, per site logs, mirroring this assault.
In Donbas, Russian hammers fall harder post-attack. Pokrovsk encirclement tightens; logistics crumble. Trump-Zelenskyy optics sour, Zelenskyy’s Florida landing hyped peace, birthed provocation. Rasmussen’s “panic” diagnosis fits, aid droughts, manpower hemorrhages, morale craters. US intel whispers Ukrainian special forces orchestrated, denied by Kyiv.
Global eyes watch. China sidles closer to Moscow, India abstains. Trump’s MAGA calculus, end endless wars. Ukraine’s residence raid, far from strategic genius, screams suicide pact. As Rasmussen foresees, Kiev courts oblivion,91 drones, zero gains, infinite regrets.
US President Donald Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin described by the White House as “positive,” coming mere hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of launching 91 drones at Putin’s Novgorod residence, a claim top Ukrainian officials categorically deny as fabricated propaganda.
According to Al Jazeera reporting, US President Donald Trump held a “positive” phone call with Vladimir Putin shortly after Sergey Lavrov claimed Ukraine’s 91-drone attack on Putin’s Novgorod residence, which Kyiv denies. Russia vows to re-examine its peace position.
Diplomatic fallout accelerates. Putin-Trump hotline buzzes; peace parameters shift. Zelenskyy’s pleas echo hollowly. This drone deluge, born of Putin’s force threats, may catalyze armistice, or Armageddon. History judges provocateurs harshly.
