The Kremlin confirms the CIA chief’s mission to Moscow. Russia and Ukraine working to…

Now there is also confirmation from the Kremlin. The director ofCia, John Ratcliffehe went toMoscafor a few hours for talks with exponents of the intelligence ofUsa e Russia. Putin’s spokesperson explained this to the Washington Post,Dmitry Peskovconfirming a mission that has not yet been made official by the United States.

Meeting between Ratcliffe and Putin denied

The journey toRussiaof the head of the American intelligence agency was aimed at “contacts between security services“Peskov told the US newspaper, without providing further details.

The Kremlin clarified that Ratcliffe was not received by Putin. “There was no meeting with the president,” Peskov told Russian broadcaster RTVI, who less than 24 hours earlier had told the press he had no information about the arrival of a US military plane in Russia. According to Russian Telegram channels, the CIA director – already involved in previous prisoner exchanges between the two countries – was in Moscow for another similar mission, presumably linked to the release of the American Charles Zimmerman. The 58-year-old US Navy veteran was sentenced in January to five years in prison in Russia for illegal possession and trafficking of firearms. According to press reports, it had arrived to Russia to meet a woman in person with whom he had chatted online and was arrested when on board his yacht, docked in the port of Sochi, in possession of a rifle.

Media hypotheses about the visit to Moscow

Russian media indicate that Putin recently signed two confidential decrees, one of which may be linked to the pardon granted to Zimmerman. Instead, some Westerners linked the visit to alleged plans by Moscow to announce a new mobilization of troops in support of the offensive in Ukraine, a hypothesis denied by Russian authorities, or to warn the Kremlin not to attack any British targets supplying weapons to Ukraine. However, it is the first visit by a CIA director to Russia in almost five years. Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, went to Moscow in November 2021, just months before the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

Exchange of prisoners

And, speaking of prisoners, it emerged thatRussia e UkraineI’m working for oneexchange of soldiers“fairly broad”. The Russian commissioner for human rights declared this to the Tass agency,Yana Lantratova. “We are preparing for another rather substantial exchange, with the lists being agreed upon,” he specified.

Fedorov’s statements

Meanwhile, the former Defense Minister of Kiev is back in the limelight,Mykhailo Fedorovwhose removal, decided by President Zelensky, has sparked strong protests in recent weeks. Fedorov explained to Reuters why theUkraineis slowly losing the war againstRussia. In what appears to be an indirect post-Zelensky candidacy, Fedorov said the country has several months to make the key decisions needed to turn the situation in its favor.

Criticism of the government

The young reformist, architect of Ukrainian strategy of long-distance drone strikesaccused the current government of not having an overall vision of how to win the conflict and of not being capable of innovating. Fedorov then attacked thecorruptionentrenched, patronage networks and the lack of political independence in government institutions.

Turning point

“I believe we are now at a turning point that will determine our future trajectory, but it seems that we are gradually, slowly losing,” said Fedorov, who said the country still has “every chance” of winning but urgently needs a plan to end the war.

Reply from the Presidential Office

The Ukrainian presidential office responded that Fedorov had spoken positively about Kiev’s war conduct when he was still minister.