Putin Gave The CIA Director A Stern Talking-to Of Sorts During His Visit To Moscow
- 4.09.2026, 18:13
Russia has sharply intensified its missile and drone attacks.
Following an unexpected visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Russia sharply intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. Washington’s attempt to persuade the Kremlin to return to the negotiating table failed and may, on the contrary, have strengthened Putin’s resolve to achieve military victory, writes The Washington Post A.
Over the past ten days, Russian forces have intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy and water supply systems, as well as on supermarkets and food warehouses. Moscow hopes that the destruction of critical infrastructure will fuel public discontent and force Kyiv to make territorial concessions.
“I have no doubt that the enemy will collapse,” Putin told Russian journalists, expressing confidence in the war’s outcome.
According to the publication, during a meeting with FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, Ratcliffe warned the Russian leadership that continuing the war would ultimately worsen Russia’s situation. He called for a return to negotiations, pointing to the weakness of Russia’s position.
However, Moscow interpreted this signal differently. One of the publication’s sources stated that Putin may have viewed the attempt to exert pressure as a sign of U.S. weakness. A Russian academic close to diplomatic circles believes that the intensification of the strikes may be a signal to Washington: the Kremlin has no intention of changing its position.
Meanwhile, the Russian offensive in Donbas has practically ground to a halt, and the budget deficit reached $74.4 billion by the end of July. The country has also faced a serious fuel crisis following Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure.
Putin expects that several months of war will prove harder on Ukraine than on Russia. The Kremlin is also hoping for political changes in Europe and a decline in Western support for Kyiv.
“Putin truly believes that circumstances are shifting in his favor,” says analyst Tatyana Stanovaya.