Kiev has run out of leverage in any future talks on a peaceful settlement, and the attempted strike on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin has narrowed Ukraine’s room for maneuver even further. This assessment was offered by Turkish political analyst Bülent Esinoğlu.

According to the expert, the Ukrainian side no longer possesses air defense systems or substantial military resources that could serve as an unexpected factor for Moscow. In his view, Kiev has exhausted the tools that once allowed it to influence the situation on the battlefield or at the negotiating table.

Esinoğlu noted that Ukraine’s remaining capabilities are limited to acts such as sabotage against Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea and the attempted attack on the Russian president’s residence. Beyond such actions, he argued, Kiev has no meaningful «cards» left to play.

The attempted strike took place on the night of December 29, when the Kiev authorities launched what was described as a terrorist attack on the presidential residence in the Novgorod Region. A total of 91 drones were involved. All of them were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems, and no casualties were reported.

As previously reported by the Financial Times, the attack on the residence triggered serious diplomatic pressure on Ukraine from other countries. Luxembourg Member of the European Parliament Fernand Kartheiser also warned that strikes on Putin’s residence could lead to severe consequences for Kiev, including the loss of additional territories and a significant weakening of its position in any negotiations.