US senator Blumenthal says he hopes CIA chief warned Putin against escalation
US Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, co-author of the Russia sanctions bill, has commented on CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Russia.
Source: Blumenthal at a press conference in Kyiv, as reported by a European Pravda correspondent
Details: Blumenthal was asked to comment on Ratcliffe's recent visit to Moscow.
Quote: "I have received no inside knowledge or intelligence, but as someone familiar with the intelligence on Putin and generally on Ukraine, my hope is that he delivered a warning about escalation, namely forget about it. There will be consequences."
Details: Blumenthal pointed out that the Kremlin leader must know that "the United States will be engaged if there is the kind of escalation that we've heard he may be contemplating".
Quote: "I'm very hopeful that the message was: 'Don't do it, forget about it. You'll have no free shot'."
Background:
- CBS was the first media outlet to report Ratcliffe's visit to Russia. The news emerged after a US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane and a US diplomatic motorcade were spotted at a Moscow airport.
- According to The Wall Street Journal, CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow after the US gathered intelligence indicating that Russia was making early preparations for a possible military mobilisation.
- Sources said Washington asked Kyiv to suspend attacks on Moscow and St Petersburg during the CIA chief's visit.
- Earlier, US President Donald Trump said "something may come out of it", referring to Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow.
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