Putin reportedly shows no signs of engaging in peace talks for Ukraine, according to the departing head of MI6.
In a stark statement, Richard Moore, the outgoing head of MI6, has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking to impose his imperial will on Ukraine by all means at his disposal. Moore believes Putin has bitten off more than he can chew and underestimated the Ukrainians.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has continued unabated for more than three years, with Moscow remaining noncommittal regarding ceasefire and summit meeting proposals. Ukraine, on the other hand, has accepted these proposals, but no progress has been made in this regard.
Moore's assertions come as analysts believe Putin is attempting to outlast Ukraine's Western partners and win a protracted war of attrition by overwhelming Ukraine's smaller army with numbers. However, Moore suggests that Putin's war with Ukraine is accelerating Russia's decline.
The conflict has had far-reaching consequences. Moore stated that the all-out invasion has strengthened Ukrainian national identity and accelerated its westward trajectory, pushing Sweden and Finland to join NATO. Ukraine is also actively seeking to expand defense cooperation with other countries and secure billions of dollars of investment in its domestic weapons industry.
During Moore's tenure, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In response, MI6 has taken steps to counter Russian intelligence activities. Recently, the agency unveiled a dark web portal called Silent Courier, aiming to recruit new spies and allow potential intelligence providers to contact the service.
However, Moore clarified that there is 'absolutely no evidence' that Russia's President Vladimir Putin wants to negotiate an end to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He also compared a phone call from Putin to Ivan Pavlov's conditioning of dogs, suggesting it elicits expected responses from the Kremlin.
In a scathing criticism, Moore accused Putin of mortgaging Russia's future for his personal legacy and a distorted version of history. He is stepping down as head of MI6, and the agency will get its first female chief, Blaise Metreweli, at the end of September.
US President Donald Trump has also expressed disappointment with Putin's peace efforts, stating that he has 'really let me down' in this regard. Moore echoes these sentiments, urging the international community to stand firm against Russian aggression in Ukraine.
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