US, UK spy chiefs praise Ukraine's 'audacious' Russia incursion; call for Gaza cease-fire
intelligence agencies said Saturday that Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia is a significant achievement that could change the narrative of the grinding 2 1/2-year war. Richard Moore, the head of MI6, said Kyiv's surprise move in August to seize territory in Russia's Kursk region was «typically audacious and bold on the part of the Ukrainians, to try and change the game». He said the offensive had «brought the war home to ordinary Russians».
Speaking alongside Moore at a rare public event in London, CIA Director William Burns said the offensive was a «significant achievement» that had exposed vulnerabilities in the Russian military.
Burns also warned of the growing and «troubling» defence relationship between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea that he said threatens both Ukraine and Western allies in the Middle East. North Korea has sent ammunition and missiles to Russia to use against Ukraine, while Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones.
Burns said the CIA had yet to see evidence of China sending weapons to Russia, «but we see lot of things short of that». And he warned Iran against supplying ballistic missiles to Moscow, saying «it would be a dramatic escalation» of the relationship.
The two spymasters also wrote an opinion piece for the Financial Times, calling for a cease fire in Gaza and saying their agencies had «exploited our intelligence channels to push hard for restraint and de-escalation».
They said a cease-fire in Israel's war against Hamas «could end the suffering and appalling loss of
