European intelligence chiefs are skeptical about ending Russia’s war against Ukraine this year, Reuters says. Ukraine officials will not attend the Winter Paralympics over the participation of the Russians and Belarusians under their flags. Ukrainian drones hit an oil depot in Russia’s Pskov region.
European intelligence chiefs skeptical about ending Russia’s war against Ukraine this year, Reuters says
European intelligence chiefs are pessimistic about the chances of an agreement being reached this year to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, despite Donald Trump’s assertions that U.S.-brokered talks have brought the prospect of a deal “reasonably close,” Reuters said Thursday. The paragraphs below are quoted from the article.
The heads of five European spy agencies, who spoke to Reuters in recent days on condition of anonymity, said Russia did not want to end the war quickly. Four of them said Moscow was using the talks with the U.S. to push for sanctions relief and business deals.
The talks – the latest round of which took place in Geneva this week – are “negotiation theatre”, one European intelligence chief said.
The remarks point to a striking gulf in thinking between European capitals and the White House, which Ukraine says wants to clinch a peace agreement by June ahead of the U.S. congressional mid-term elections in November. Trump says he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to make a deal.
“Russia is not seeking a peace agreement. They are seeking their strategic goals, and those have not changed,” one of the European intelligence chiefs said. These include the removal of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy and for Ukraine to become a “neutral” buffer to the West.
The main issue, a second intelligence chief said, is that Russia neither wants nor needs a quick peace and its economy is “not on the verge of collapse”.
While the intelligence chiefs did not say how they obtained their information, their services use human sources, intercepted communications and various other means. All said they consider Russia a priority target for intelligence gathering.
The second spy chief said Russia could be satisfied territorially if it obtained the rest of Donetsk, but that would not fulfil its objective of overthrowing Zelenskiy’s pro-Western government.
A third intelligence chief said there was a misplaced belief that Ukraine ceding Donetsk would quickly lead to a peace deal.
The spy chief, without providing evidence, also expressed concern over the “very limited” level of skill in negotiating with Russia across the West, including on the European side, which Zelenskiy says should have an active role in the talks.
Ukraine officials not to attend Winter Paralympics over participation of Russians, Belarusians under their flags
Ukrainian officials will not attend next month’s Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics following the news that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete under their flags, Ukraine’s Youth and Sports Minister, Matviy Bidnyi said in a post to X on Wednesday.
“In response to the Paralympics organisers’ outrageous decision to let russians and belarusians compete under their national flags, Ukrainian public officials will not attend the Paralympic Games,” Bidnyi said.
He said no Ukraine official would be at the opening ceremony or any event of the Games.
“We thank every official from the free world who will do the same. We will keep fighting!” he added.
Ukrainian athletes will still take part in the Paralympic Games.
Six Russians and four Belarusians will be allowed to take part under their own flags at the upcoming Paralympics rather than as neutral athletes.
Ukraine drones hit oil depot in Russia’s Pskov region
Drones from Ukraine’s Security Service hit a Russian oil depot in Velikiye Luki, Pskov region, overnight on Thursday, a source in the agency told Ukrainska Pravda.
The region’s governor and Russian Telegram channels reported an overnight attack on the city. A fire was raging at the oil depot.
Protective nets had been erected over the tanks, but according to social media reports, several drones broke through.
The Velikiye Luki oil facility stores diesel, gasoline and other petroleum products. This depot is located 500 km from Ukraine’s border and is owned by Pskovnefteprodukt LLC.
At least four explosions were recorded at the depot following the strikes, the source said. Employees of nearby enterprises were evacuated.