Putin sees US weakness after Iran war — The Washington Post
Photo: Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
US intelligence believes that the war with Iran has weakened Washington. Against this backdrop, CIA Director Ratcliffe warned Moscow about the danger of escalation in Ukraine, according to The Washington Post.
Ratcliffe's trip to Moscow was preceded by new intelligence regarding how the Russian leadership assesses the US's strategic position.
According to this information, the Kremlin believes that the war with Iran has weakened Washington's capabilities. Russia is believed to view this as an opportunity to increase pressure on US interests and US allies in Europe.
However, the agency's sources do not disclose how this information was obtained or to what extent US analysts are confident in its accuracy.
What Ratcliffe told Moscow
The details of the CIA director's talks with Russian leadership remain classified. However, one source tells the WP that Ratcliffe warned Moscow: a further significant escalation of the war against Ukraine could have negative consequences for Russia itself.
According to the agency's source, the purpose of the visit was not only to assess the situation of Russian troops, who had failed to achieve a breakthrough on the front lines.
The trip was also linked to the fact that Moscow likely perceives the US as exhausted by a protracted military campaign and incapable of actively intervening.
Ratcliffe also made it clear to Russian officials that a large-scale escalation against Ukraine could change Donald Trump's position and prompt the US President to provide more active support to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Amid ammunition shortages
The intelligence assessment came after reports of a decline in US troop readiness and ammunition shortages due to the prolonged campaign against Iran.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other administration officials denied the existence of a serious shortage, but at the same time pressed weapons manufacturers to speed up production.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow this week took place amid heightened secrecy regarding a personal directive from US President Donald Trump. According to sources, the President did not disclose details of the trip even to some of his closest advisers or to representatives of the military leadership.
