The Wall Street Journal first reported on the recent assessments. Martin O’Donnell, a senior NATO military spokesperson, declined to comment on classified intelligence assessments but said NATO is “always thinking through and preparing for any number of scenarios.” And last September, NATO fighter jets shot down multiple Russian drones that had violated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine. CNN asked the Kremlin for comment on the US intel assessment on Putin as well as the assessment on the drone. The recent intelligence assessments also come as US-led diplomatic efforts to bring the war between Russia and Ukraine to an end have stalled.