The heads of the American and British foreign intelligence agencies praised Ukraine’s incursion into Russia as Ukraine attempts to shift the course of the war.
Richard Moore, the head of MI6, said Ukraine’s surprise August offensive into Russia’s Kursk region was “typically audacious and bold on the part of the Ukrainians to try and change the game” while making comments at an event in London, the Associated Press reported.
CIA Director William Burns echoed Moore’s comments, calling the offensive a “significant tactical achievement” exposing Russia’s vulnerabilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed last month that his troops are fighting inside of Russia, what he called the “aggressor’s territory.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Ukraine’s Kursk mission won’t prevent his forces from continuing in eastern Ukraine, even as thousands of troops were relocated to defend Kursk.
Zelensky said he would hold the Russian land his troops seized indefinitely.
While the Kursk incursion was deemed a bold move by world leaders, it has yet to fully pay off for Ukraine. It has so far failed to achieve one of its main goals, which was to divert troops from eastern Ukraine. The troops Putin sent to Kursk came from the south, not the east.
Moore and Burns also co-authored an article in the Financial Times, where they outlined the U.S. and U.K. alliance, particularly when it comes to countries like Russia.
“The CIA and SIS stand together in resisting an assertive Russia and [Russian President Vladimir Putin’s] war of aggression in Ukraine,” they wrote.
As the war rages on between Russia and Ukraine, the intelligence leaders said staying the course is “more vital than ever.”
The leaders wrote that there is an “unprecedented array of threats,” including Russia, China and threats of terrorism, making the strength of their trans-Atlantic relationship more important.
