MI6 chief accuses Putin of delaying peace talks on Ukraine
The new head of Britain's MI6 foreign intelligence service, Blaise Metraveli, has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is deliberately delaying peace talks over the war in Ukraine, complicating Western efforts to reach an agreement and end the conflict.
According to Metreveli, the Kremlin is deliberately using tactics to delay the negotiations and shift the burden of the war onto its own population. She also stressed that Moscow is using hybrid methods of influence, including cyberattacks, disinformation and military actions in the "grey zone" to test the West's resolve without openly escalating the situation. Sources: PBS,The Guardian, Reuters.
The MI6 chief made this assessment in her first public speech since taking up the post. She emphasised that the world is now in a "space between peace and war", where the traditional frontline is gradually changing due to technology, cyber threats and intelligence. According to her, Russia is seeking to subjugate Ukraine and is putting pressure on NATO countries, with no intention of ending the war quickly.
Metravelly also noted that Western support for Ukraine remains unchanged, and London's intelligence service will continue to put pressure "on behalf of Ukraine", even if Moscow tries to delay the dialogue. This position reflects the assessment of Western intelligence services that the Kremlin is not ready for serious concessions and expects to continue the conflict for a long time, including the winter period.
Metreveli's statements came amid intensified diplomatic efforts on a peace plan in Berlin and other European capitals. Although the parties to the diplomatic process claim some progress, key disagreements over territory and security guarantees remain the main obstacles to an agreement.
