CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow at the end of August and discussed the war against Ukraine with the heads of the Russian security services, Valeriy Kondratyuk reported. American media reported that he had urged Moscow to begin serious negotiations before its position deteriorated. The Kremlin confirmed the contacts themselves but stated that there had been no meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Briefly about the main points
- Kondratyuk linked the discussion to the Russian army’s casualties and the progress of the offensive.
- The NYT reported on the call to begin negotiations before Russia’s position deteriorates.
- There are no reports in the media of any specific threats against Moscow.
- The prediction of a possible break-up of the Russian Federation is Kondratyuk’s assessment.
- The Kremlin has acknowledged that contacts took place via the security services but ruled out a meeting with Putin.
Kondratyuk outlined the arguments regarding losses and territorial gains
Former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Valery Kondratyuk stated that his interlocutors Retcliffe were directors of the FSB Oleksandr Bortnikov and the head of the Russian Federation’s Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin.
According to him, Director of the CIA He drew attention to the Russian army’s casualties and the relationship between these casualties and the outcome of the offensive. Kondratyuk cited an estimate according to which Russia had seized approximately 1% of Ukrainian territory over 18 months; the methodology behind this calculation was not provided in the interview.
The American media reported on a signal to Moscow indicating a willingness to negotiate
The New York Times, citing current and former US officials, reported that Retcliffe He conveyed to the Russian side a negative assessment of its military and economic situation. According to the publication, he called on Moscow to begin serious negotiations before its position deteriorates further.
As NV reported, summarising the content of the NYT article, the CIA director did not make any threats To Vladimir Putin the specific consequences should the war continue. This is what distinguishes a call for negotiations from an ultimatum.
Kondratyuk expressed his own views on Russia’s future
Kondratyuk cited the possible break-up of Russia as his own assessment of the consequences of the Kremlin’s future course of action. In his view, a continuation of the war could lead to economic disaster, after which the state’s future would become unpredictable.
The comparison with the collapse of the Soviet Union was also made by a former Ukrainian intelligence officer. This does not imply that Retcliffe passed on a similar warning to the Russian side.
The Kremlin has acknowledged contacts via the secret services, whilst Reuters has reported on the subject of Ukraine
Reuters reported on 21 September that a source at the agency had confirmed that Ukraine had been discussed during the visit to Moscow, without revealing any details. Retcliffe and the CIA did not publicly disclose the specific content of the discussions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov On 26 August, he stated that the CIA Director had held talks with his counterparts in the intelligence services, and that Putin had been promptly informed of these contacts. According to him, there was no face-to-face meeting between Retcliffe and the Russian President.
