CIA chief did not threaten Russia with consequences for continuing war during Moscow visit – NYT

CIA Director John Ratcliffe did not make any threats during his visit to Moscow about possible consequences for Russia if Vladimir Putin decides to continue the war against Ukraine.

Source: The New York Times, citing current and former senior US officials

Details: The NYT said that the CIA chief had given a pessimistic assessment of the course of the war for the Russians during talks with Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov. Ratcliffe urged the Kremlin to begin genuine negotiations to end the war before Russia's military and economic position deteriorates further. However, he made no threats regarding the possible consequences if Putin ignored this assessment and decided to continue the war against Ukraine.

US intelligence analysts have long questioned whether Putin's advisers are giving him an accurate account of the scale of Russia's losses and the actual situation on the battlefield. The US hopes that, as a former intelligence officer, the Russian leader will regard information from the CIA chief as more urgent and credible than conventional diplomatic signals.

The NYT noted that Ratcliffe's channel of communication with Bortnikov operates in parallel with those established by US President Donald Trump's Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with other Putin advisers.

Despite the expectation among some members of Trump's circle that Russia would achieve a quick victory, Russian forces' heavy losses and Ukraine's determination to continue fighting have changed Washington's assessment of the situation.

Quote: "Before Mr. Ratcliffe met with Mr. Bortnikov in Moscow, he spoke with his Ukrainian counterparts, assuring them that he would be exploring Russian positions, not making concessions on behalf of the Ukrainians."

Background:

• In November 2021, the then CIA director William Burns visited Moscow to meet Bortnikov and personally warn the Russian leadership against launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• In November 2022, Burns met Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, in the Turkish capital of Ankara following intercepted intelligence suggesting that Russia might use nuclear weapons during a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
• On 25 August 2026, it became known that Ratcliffe had made a secret visit to Moscow for talks with the Russian leadership.
• On 27 August, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service reported that the Russian General Staff had prepared a plan for the additional mobilisation of 600,000 people in 2026-2027. They are primarily intended to replenish units fighting against Ukraine.

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