John Ratcliffe is said to have conveyed to the head of Russia’s FSB, Alexandr Bortnikov, an assessment of the situation regarding the war in Ukraine, reports NYT. The CIA director is said to have urged the Russians to reach an agreement before their country’s situation worsens.
The publication wrote on the subject, referring to current and former American officials, whose names it does not reveal. According to journalists, Ratcliffe would not have made threats regarding possible consequences for the Russian side if President Vladimir Putin were to ignore the CIA’s analysis of the front situation and decide to continue the war.
CIA analysts have long wondered whether Putin’s close associates present him with honest assessments regarding the evolution and costs of the war, according to Antena3. American espionage has long maintained communication channels with the FSB and the Russian foreign intelligence service.
The line of communication between Ratcliffe and Bortnikov operates in parallel with other channels that Trump’s envoys have established with the Kremlin administration.