Russia faces Soviet-style fate: Media reveals CIA chief’s warning in Moscow
Photo: John Ratcliffe (Getty Images)
Russia’s economy faces the risk of a Soviet-style collapse, while the situation on the battlefield has reached a deadlock. The Kremlin received this warning from US intelligence, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe delivered a warning to the Russian leadership about the true state of Russia’s economy during a visit to Moscow. Information about this became known to Western partners through US intelligence reports.
The outlet notes that the key threat to the Kremlin is not limited to the fighting in Donbas or drone strikes on Russian territory.
“From a military standpoint, the situation amounts to a stalemate. But economically, Russia will not cope. The economy will collapse, just as it did in the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War,” the report says.
US policy and Trump’s position
Journalists note that these intelligence assessments are shaping Washington’s current policy toward Ukraine. For this reason, the Russian leadership should not expect US President Donald Trump to end support for Ukraine.
The main US message to the Kremlin at the moment is, "Negotiate!"
Doubts over the G20 summit
According to the outlet's sources, there are serious doubts in German diplomatic circles about whether the Russian leader will attend the G20 summit, which is scheduled to take place in Florida in December.
Analysts suggest that Putin may be hoping to gain certain military advantages during the winter in an attempt to improve his position ahead of possible negotiations.
Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow
On August 25, John Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow on an unannounced visit, during which he held a number of meetings.
The Kremlin claimed that Ratcliffe did not meet with the Russian President. It said his visit was related to "establishing contacts between security services."
Later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Ratcliffe’s trip was largely routine.
At the same time, The New York Times reported that Ratcliffe visited Moscow to personally deliver a bleak assessment of Russia’s war against Ukraine and to persuade the Kremlin to reach a deal before conditions became even less favorable.
