The head of Britain’s MI6 has issued alarming statements about the current state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, raising concerns about a potential global escalation to World War III.
Sir Richard Moore, who leads the UK’s foreign intelligence service, emphasized during a press briefing on September 19 that negotiations for peace with Vladimir Putin are currently impossible.
Moore stated there is ‘absolutely no evidence’ suggesting that the Russian president is genuinely interested in resolving the conflict and accused Putin of misleading Western nations.
He remarked that the 72-year-old leader is ‘stringing us along’ and warned that Putin is employing various strategies to fulfill his expansionist goals, but has underestimated Ukraine’s resilience and strength.
“He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal. But he cannot succeed,” the 62-year-old Sir Moore declared.
“Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he, and many others, underestimated the Ukrainians.”
This warning follows President Donald Trump’s admission during a visit to the UK that Putin had ‘let me down’.
Trump had once suggested his relationship with the Russian president could facilitate peace, but that expectation seems to have faltered.
The conflict, which erupted in February 2022 with Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties. Moore claims it is driving Ukraine closer to Western allies while dragging Russia backwards.
“Putin has sought to convince the world that Russian victory is inevitable. But he lies. He lies to the world. He lies to his people. Perhaps he even lies to himself,” Moore stated.
“[Putin is] mortgaging his country’s future for his own personal legacy and a distorted version of history,” he added, indicating that the conflict is merely hastening Russia’s decline.
The speech, made in Istanbul, coincided with MI6’s announcement of a new encrypted dark web tool called ‘Silent Courier’, designed to recruit spies from inside Russia and other regions.
“To those men and women in Russia who have truths to share and the courage to share them, I invite you to contact MI6,” Sir Moore urged.
His departure this month concludes a five-year leadership, with Blaise Metreweli set to become MI6’s first female chief.