Putin intensified strikes on Ukraine after secret meeting with CIA chief, WP reports
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russia intensified its airstrikes on Ukraine after a secret visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The Kremlin viewed the US warnings as a sign of weakness and decided to increase pressure on Kyiv, The Washington Post reports.
An attempt to issue a warning and the Kremlin's response
According to the outlet, during his visit, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov in an attempt to convey to Russian leader Vladimir Putin's inner circle that escalating the war would only weaken Russia's position.
"The message was: Things are not going well for you. It’s time to talk. Let’s figure this out, because it’s going to be even worse for you in six months, 12 months time," a source familiar with the discussions told the outlet.
However, Moscow interpreted the calls for peace as a sign of weakness on the part of the United States.
Russia viewed the visit as "an attempt to try to convince Putin to stop, but Putin read it as weakness," the source said.
Immediately after the meetings, Russia intensified round-the-clock missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, the power grid, water supplies and food warehouses.
Putin bets on a winter collapse
Russian analysts and sources among the country's elite say Putin remains convinced of his victory and categorically rejects freezing the war along the current front line.
"I have no doubt that the enemy will crumble," Putin said publicly shortly after the US delegation's visit.
According to experts, the Kremlin's key condition for any further negotiations remains the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas.
Moscow is counting on winter strikes and resource shortages to fuel public discontent and force Ukraine to agree to capitulation.
At the same time, the Russian economy is under serious strain:
- Budget deficit — By the end of July, it had risen to $74.4 billion (2.8% of GDP), significantly exceeding initial forecasts.
- Fuel crisis — Strikes on Russian oil refineries have triggered the country's worst gasoline shortage since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
- Banking problems — Financial concerns are prompting Russians to withdraw money from the banking system.
Despite this, the Kremlin believes that high oil prices will allow it to wage a war of attrition for longer than Ukraine can.
Peace talks on Ukraine
It should be recalled that US President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will soon visit Kyiv and Moscow to revive peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Ahead of the trip, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Trump's envoys would arrive in Kyiv on September 6. According to him, Russia is expected to fully halt its strikes and air attacks during the visit.
At the same time, media reports emerged that the US had asked Ukraine to refrain from strikes on Russia's energy sector while the US envoys are in the region, to ensure the safety of the negotiating process.
