2023-07-01 06:45:26
The CIA chief’s secret trip to Ukraine
CIA Director William Burns recently visited Ukraine where he met with intelligence officials and President Volodymyr Zelensky, a US official confirmed to AFP on condition of anonymity on Friday. This trip, which was not made public when it was made, took place as Ukrainian forces continued their counter-offensive launched in June in the east and south of the country.
On this occasion, Mr. Burns reaffirmed “American commitment to intelligence sharing to help Ukraine defend against Russian aggression”said the US official.
According to Washington Post, the first media outlet to report on the trip, Ukrainian leaders presented plans to retake territories occupied by Russian forces and begin ceasefire negotiations by the end of the year. The trip took place in June, the newspaper adds.
The trip took place before the abortive rebellion led on June 24 by the boss of the Wagner Group, Evguéni Prigojine, said the American official. This mutiny, perceived as the worst threat to the Kremlin’s authority in decades, “was not a topic of discussion”he said.
The United States tried to make it clear to Russia that it had played no role in the rebellion. Most major American media reported Friday that Mr. Burns had telephoned after this rebellion to the head of Russian foreign intelligence (SVR), Sergei Naryshkin, to assure him that the United States was not involved.
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