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Mario and Larry discuss a high-tension incident: a claimed Ukrainian attack on one of Vladimir Putin’s residences in Novgorod with about 90 long-range drones, reported by Russia as an act of terrorism, with Lavrov pledging retaliation and a Kremlin aide claiming Putin mentioned timing for strikes after a call to Trump. They note there is no proof provided of damage or casualties, and no confirmation from the US side. The conversation covers who might be responsible—Ukraine, Russia as a false flag, or other actors—and the implications for ongoing negotiations.
Larry outlines the timeline as presented by the Russians: the attack supposedly occurred the night of the 28th into the 29th, with Putin informing Trump about it within the last six hours; there were additional conversations today, including Putin’s remarks to Zelensky in Florida and a meeting in which Lavrov indicated retaliatory options were set. He emphasizes the Russians treat it as terrorism and notes Putin has not lived at his residences for years, instead using the Kremlin, and that the targeted location was symbolic or an assassination attempt. He recalls past Ukrainian incidents against Putin (e.g., Kursk helicopter episode) and observes that Russia has historically focused on military targets rather than civilians, contrasting with Ukrainian strikes on civilian targets in Donbas. He suggests the incident could be used to undermine Ukrainian credibility in negotiations or to accelerate Russian military actions.
Mario questions the motive if Ukraine targeted a residence Putin doesn’t regularly inhabit and ponders whether this helps or harms Trump’s peace aims. He references Budanov’s prior statements about attempted Ukrainian hits on Putin and notes Budanov’s alleged CIA alignment. He raises concerns about possible internal US intelligence conflict with Trump and cites a veteran’s observation about shifts in US media and intelligence narratives. He also notes Zelensky’s insistence on no territorial concessions, and Russia’s insistence that Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk be permanently part of the Russian Federation with elections to legitimize any future arrangements, and to have NATO out of Ukraine—conditions not open to negotiation.
They debate whether the attack could be a false flag or staged by Western intelligence, with Larry pointing out that proof or radar data could settle the question: if 91 drones were fired from Ukrainian territory, radar evidence would exist; if Russia staged it, they would need to show what was shot down. They discuss Ukraine’s record of attacks on Russian targets (e.g., Crocus Theater attack, the Darya Dugin assassination attempt, the 2023 journalist killing with an exploding statue head) and Russia’s countermeasures, including potential hits on Ukrainian intelligence facilities like the SBU headquarters in Kyiv. Larry asserts that retaliatory actions could reveal who is behind the attack, suggesting Russia might target the Ureshnik missile system or European assets if warranted by evidence and strategic aims.
The pair analyzes ongoing battlefield developments: Russia has intensified manpower and now reportedly fields over a million troops with eight active axes, while Ukraine faces mounting pressure; independent assessments indicate more Russian territorial gains in 2023–2024, including Pokrovsk and Mykolaiv region advances, with Zaporizhzhia looming as a critical front. They contrast propaganda effectiveness: Ukraine often dominates information warfare, while Russia’s messaging lags. They discuss a potential peace process: Trump’s outreach, Zelensky’s in-person engagement with Wittkopf and Kushner, and the prospect of security guarantees for Ukraine in a postwar scenario, with Trump claiming possible postwar support—discounting questions about whether Congress would ratify any deal, given prevailing anti-Russian sentiment in the US.
Larry concludes that the attack will impact negotiations, though he believes negotiations are already off track because Ukraine resists concessions while Russia maintains strict non-negotiable stances on Crimea and other territories, NATO removal, and demilitarization. He suggests Lavrov’s swift public reaction and anticipated significant retaliation—possibly targeting Ukrainian or European intelligence assets—could shape the trajectory of the conflict and the negotiations. The conversation ends with a note that they expect further developments after New Year’s, and that the true responsibility attribution may become clearer through Russia’s specific retaliatory actions.