CIA Director John Ratcliffe on Ukrainian resistance: "They will fight with their bare hands if they have to"
CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Photo: Reuters
John Ratcliffe, the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, asserted that the resilience of both the Ukrainian army and the broader population in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is underestimated. He emphasized that Ukraine's armed forces would continue their fight, even unarmed, if the terms of any peace agreement do not meet Ukraine's expectations.
The CIA chief said this during hearings in the US Senate.
"With regard to the Ukrainian resistance, the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian military have been underestimated for a period of several years now," he stressed.
According to Ratcliffe, the Ukrainians are ready to fight even with their bare hands if they are not satisfied with the terms of the peace agreement.
"And ultimately, from my reflections in observing, from an intelligence standpoint, I'm convinced that they will fight with their bare hands if they have to, if they don't have terms that are acceptable to an enduring peace," the head of intelligence under the US government emphasized.
Ratcliffe also emphasized that US President Donald Trump seeks to end the war on terms that will make it impossible for it to happen again.
"As for the maximalist goals (of the Russians – ed.), President Trump said that he is aware of the danger if Russia gets what it wants," the CIA chief added.
However, he noted that if the peace talks were successful, neither side would get "everything it wants" and that "no maximalist goals would be achieved."
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The US President's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who is also negotiating on Ukraine, said that the biggest problem in resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war is the issue of Crimea and the "four regions" where Russia held illegal referendums on joining the Russian Federation.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that, among other topics, during the first negotiations with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, potential territorial concessions within the framework of a future peace agreement were also discussed.
In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the American negotiating team held a meeting with the Russian side, during which the issue of the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia was also discussed. He believes the most challenging problems in negotiations with the Russian side will be the ceasefire and the territories.
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Ukrainians support 30-day ceasefire, but firmly oppose Russian demands – survey
US-Ukraine negotiations conclude in Riyadh – Al Arabiya
Russia pushes US to cede entire territories of four Ukrainian regions despite limited control – The Moscow Times
