Topline
Moscow is denying U.S. intelligence claims that advisors have misinformed President Vladimir Putin about Russia’s performance in Ukraine, according to the New York Times, after a senior U.K. intelligence official on Thursday confirmed the U.S.’ findings.
Key Facts
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “neither the State Department nor the Pentagon” have “real information about what is happening in the Kremlin,” according to the New York Times.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “neither the State Department nor the Pentagon” have “real information about what is happening in the Kremlin,” according to the New York Times.
Peskov said U.S. officials’ “complete misunderstanding” of the Moscow situation could lead to “bad consequences,” the New York Times reported.
Jeremy Fleming, who heads the U.K.’s cyber-intelligence agency GCHQ, confirmed the U.S. intelligence in a speech at the Australian National University on Thursday, saying Putin’s advisers are “afraid to tell him the truth.”
Crucial Quote
U.S. officials “do not understand President Putin, they do not understand the decision-making mechanism and they do not understand the efforts of our work,” Peskov said, according to the New York Times.
Keybackground
A U.S. official told multiple media outlets Wednesday that Putin’s top military advisors are “too afraid to tell him the truth,” about Russia’s military struggles in Ukraine. A NATO official estimated last week that as many as 15,000 Russian troops had been killed in Ukraine, while Russia claims its death toll is 1,351. U.S. officials this week also suggested growing conflict between Putin and Russia’s Ministry of Defense, and in particular, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to declassified intelligence, the New York Times reported. Russia has “misjudged the resistance of the Ukrainian people,” Fleming said.
Tangent
Peskov on Thursday also cast doubts on a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in April. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky this week said Russia had proposed a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, according to state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti, while an advisor to Zelensky said the meeting could occur soon. But a draft peace agreement must be approved by both sides before any meeting could take place, Peskov said, according to the New York Times. “Only after that” will the two sides discuss “a meeting at the highest levels,” Peskov said, according to the report.
Further Reading
Putin’s Advisors Misleading Him About Russian Performance In Ukraine, U.S. Official Says (Forbes)
Moscow calls U.S. intelligence on Putin’s military advice a ‘complete misunderstanding.’ (The New York Times)
