Top Russian spy confirms phone call to CIA director following Wagner revolt

In a recent phone call, Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's foreign intelligence service (SVR), and Bill Burns, the head of the CIA, discussed the short-lived mutiny led by Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and deliberated on the situation in Ukraine.

The call took place late last month and lasted approximately an hour. While the events of the mutiny were addressed, the primary focus of the conversation revolved around Ukraine, reported the Guardian.

Confirmation and US position

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The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported that William Burns assured the Kremlin during the call that the United States had no involvement in the Wagner revolt.

The CIA, however, declined to comment on Naryshkin's remarks or provide further details about the call.

Ukraine's stance and US support

Ukraine, which experienced a Russian invasion in February 2022, asserts that other nations should not negotiate its future on its behalf.

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The United States has consistently backed this principle, advocating for "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine." This stance emphasises the importance of Ukraine's direct involvement in discussions about its own fate.

Communication amidst strained relations

Despite strained relations between Moscow and Washington, Burns and Naryshkin have maintained a line of communication since the beginning of the Ukraine war.

They previously met face-to-face in Ankara last November. US officials clarified that Burns was not conducting negotiations or discussing the settlement of the war in Ukraine during that meeting, following a leak from the Kremlin after Ukraine recaptured Kherson.

Possibility of future negotiations

During the recent call, Naryshkin expressed his belief that negotiations on the war in Ukraine would eventually become possible.

While it is unclear whether this specific topic was part of his conversation with Burns, Naryshkin stated that any conflict, including armed conflict, ultimately ends through negotiations. However, he also acknowledged that the conditions for such negotiations still need time to develop.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak dismissed Naryshkin's influence on the war's outcome, asserting that individuals like him have no leverage over how the conflict will end. Podolyak argued that Russia is losing the war, and engaging in negotiations with people who perceive events inadequately is pointless.

Ukraine, which launched a counteroffensive last month, has refused to enter talks at this stage to avoid freezing the situation on the battlefield, where Russia has already seized more than a sixth of Ukrainian territory.

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