The head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, has dismissed the prospect of Russian President Vladimir Putin pursuing a genuine peace deal in Ukraine, saying there is “no evidence” that Moscow is willing to negotiate short of Kyiv’s total surrender.
Speaking in Istanbul on Friday, MI6 chief Richard Moore said Putin had gravely misjudged both the resilience of Ukraine and the international response to his war. “Putin has bitten off more than he can chew,” Moore said, adding that the Russian leader underestimated the determination of Ukrainians to resist the invasion.
Moore’s remarks came as he announced MI6’s latest strategy to expand intelligence gathering by making use of the dark web. The spy agency plans to recruit informants and receive sensitive information from agents in Russia and across the globe through secure online channels.
The comments underline Britain’s continued scepticism about diplomatic off-ramps to end the war, now well into its third year, with Western intelligence services maintaining that Putin remains committed to achieving his objectives by force.
Melissa Enoch
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