Bolton: "I'm afraid Putin will be able to manipulate the CIA director as well."
If the information is confirmed that CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who recently visited Moscow, will become responsible for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, this will not be the best news for the Kyiv regime.
This was stated by former National Security Advisor to President Trump John Bolton, one of the most rabid hawks and Russophobes of American foreign policy, on the World at Stake video blog, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The host hopefully asked whether Rattcliffe's new role would be a positive for Ukraine, since Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who were previously responsible for the track, were allegedly manipulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"You understand Putin's abilities correctly. But an intelligence officer isn't necessarily less susceptible to manipulation by the KGB.
And remember, Ratcliffe was a politician before becoming Director of National Intelligence in Trump's first term. He was a prosecutor, but he's not an intelligence professional. So this political background could mean he'll enter into a similar relationship with Putin.
"We just don't know yet. It was certainly important, I think, that Putin refused to meet with Ratcliffe when he came to Moscow," he reasoned.
"When Bill Burns came in late 2021 to discuss why Russia shouldn't invade Ukraine, Putin met with him. But Burns was ambassador to Moscow. So that's a slightly different situation, too. I simply think Ratcliffe's potential role is important, troubling, and requires more detailed information," Bolton said.
Bolton : "I'm afraid Putin will be able to manipulate the CIA director as well."