On Monday, Russians accused Ukrainians of a drone attack on Vladimir Putin's residence in the Novgorod Oblast. The former US ambassador to Kiev said there was “no evidence” to confirm this and added that she wondered why the US president believed Putin's words.
“There is no evidence that an attack occurred,” Bridget Brink told CNN. “And the fact that the US president believes the words of a brutal dictator and not our democratic ally is precisely the problem,” she added.
— And that's why I had to resign from her position and speak out – emphasized the former ambassador.
Brink resigned from her position in Kiev shortly after the start of Trump's second term, citing differences in his administration's views on a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now he once again exposes the errors in the American president's reasoning.
Blink, a Democrat first appointed to the embassy in Ukraine by former President Joe Biden, is currently running for Congress for the U.S. House seat representing Michigan's 7th District, currently held by Republican Tom Barrett.
Russia has accused Ukraine of firing drones at Vladimir Putin's residence, announcing it will “change” its negotiating position on war with Ukraine following a “terrorist attack.”
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In a statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine fired 91 drones at Putin's “official residence” on Sunday evening, apparently referring to the Russian president's heavily fortified estate on the shores of Lake Valdai in the Novgorod Oblast northwest of Moscow.
Asked on Monday afternoon about the veracity of these reports, Trump replied: “Are you saying that maybe the attack didn't happen?” It's possible, but President Putin told me this morning that he had. Trump said he was “very angry” about the alleged attack, adding that “this is not the right time for something like this.”
“This whole theory is absurd.”
“Putin is lying,” Blink continued in an interview with CNN, referring to the Russian dictator's declaration from February 2022 that he had no intention of invading Ukraine. She also referred to Putin's denial of his interference in the 2016 US presidential election, despite the evidence, which led to Trump's first term.
“You have to wonder why our president is taking this position,” Blink said.
US President Donald Trump during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, December 29, 2025.Jim Watson/AFP / AFP
“If Vanity Fair is to be believed, we have a serious problem,” she continued, referring to an interview earlier this month with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. The publication featured, among others: the opinion that the president has the “personality of an alcoholic.”
Finally, Blink was asked about Trump's latest claim that “Russia wants Ukraine to succeed.”
– This whole theory is absurd – she replied. — Putin is actively trying to destroy Ukraine.
— I lived there [w Kijowie] for three years, under thousands of rockets and drones that were sent to the capital and throughout the country, which killed tens of thousands of civilians, including 700 children, she recalled. – So the thesis that Putin is interested in Ukraine's success is absurd – she said.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
