Anderson Cooper 360 Ukraine Denies Drone Targeted Putin Residence
Dec 30, 2025
Jake Auchincloss, a U.S. Congressman and Marine combat veteran, discusses the moral responsibility of U.S. leadership in supporting Ukraine amidst claims of a drone attack on Putin's residence. He emphasizes the need for strength and deterrence against Russia. Beth Sanner, former deputy director of national intelligence, dives into the strategic implications of China's live-fire exercises around Taiwan and their potential testing of U.S. responses. Both guests shed light on the complex geopolitical landscape involving Russia, Venezuela, and China.
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Kremlin Uses Unverified Claim To Escalate
- Russia publicly accused Ukraine of a drone attack on a Putin residence while Ukraine vehemently denied it.
- The Kremlin used the claim to threaten retaliatory strikes despite offering no evidence, escalating tensions around peace talks.
Trump Repeats Putin's Account Publicly
- President Trump told reporters he was angry about the alleged attack and said he learned about it from Putin.
- Trump echoed Putin's account publicly, despite Ukraine's denial, complicating U.S. mediation credibility.
Phone Calls Shift Diplomatic Tone
- Meetings at Mar-a-Lago produced hopeful language but no clear breakthroughs on ending the war.
- Subsequent calls with Putin appear to sway the president's public stance more than in-person meetings with Zelensky.