CIA Director gives Kremlin intelligence on Russian losses that Putin not being told — NYT

In a recent visit to Moscow, CIA Director Mike Ratcliffe met with FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov to share critical intelligence on Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. The New York Times reports that Ratcliffe doubted the accuracy of Putin's knowledge about the conflict's progress and Russia's losses. Despite this, he urged Moscow to initiate serious negotiations to end the war, given the dire military and economic situation.

Ratcliffe's message to Bortnikov was conveyed independently of other U.S.-Russia communications channels, such as those facilitated by presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The NYT suggests that Putin, with his background in intelligence, might perceive Ratcliffe's assessment as more credible than if it had been relayed through regular diplomatic channels.

Recent battlefield data indicates that Russia's offensive in Ukraine has become stagnant, with Russian forces enduring substantial casualties. In July, Ratcliffe had previously asserted that the average lifespan of a Russian soldier on the front lines was under 35 minutes. He also claimed that, during his tenure as CIA director, Russia had only managed to seize approximately 1% of Ukraine's territory. Ukraine's strategic use of drones has severely impeded the Russian advance.

Prior to his meeting with Bortnikov, Ratcliffe consulted with his Ukrainian counterparts and reassured them that his visit would involve evaluating Russia's position, without making any concessions on Ukraine's behalf. Their first face-to-face encounter, the director's meeting with Bortnikov also discussed prisoner exchanges, a matter they had previously deliberated during other communications.

As reported by Ukrinform, Ratcliffe's trip to Moscow served the dual purpose of cautioning Russian officials against heightening tensions with U.S. NATO allies, particularly Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.