Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of attacking President Putin’s residence in Valdai, though the attack remains unconfirmed and Ukraine strongly denies involvement. Putin informed former US President Donald Trump about the incident, with Trump expressing displeasure and stating that "perhaps there was no attack," but that he trusts Putin’s word. Ukraine insists such claims are elements of an information war intended to justify possible Russian retaliatory strikes.
Analysts note that stories of attacks on Putin’s residence are consistent with previous Russian disinformation tactics used in history (such as during the Second Chechen War). The main goal is to influence Western talks, create pretexts for shifting political pressure, retain control over media narratives, and justify further Russian strikes on Ukraine.
After the recent meeting between Zelensky and Trump, no clear breakthroughs occurred in negotiations. Russia needed to evade responsibility for stalling the process and avoid alienating Trump. The so-called "attack" became a convenient tool to justify Russia’s change in negotiating stance without direct confrontation.
The article also discusses potential political consequences of US internal consensus, the influence of media, and risks of manipulating public opinion amid the real ongoing war in Ukraine. Fighting continues, with attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and sanctions against Russia. The US and Western position on supporting Ukraine remains critical.
The author emphasizes that the main threat is not informational provocations or Russia’s media initiatives, but the real war and Russia’s persistence in offensive actions and unwillingness to negotiate peace on terms acceptable to Ukraine.
