CIA continues sharing intelligence with Ukraine despite tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy
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The U.S. continues to share intelligence with Ukraine (Photo: REUTERS/Kylie Cooper)
The CIA continues sharing intelligence with Ukraine, including warnings of incoming missiles and drones, despite tensions between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, The Atlantic reported, citing a senior officer on Oct. 23.
According to him, "the CIA plays a leading role" among U.S. representatives involved in supporting Kyiv. He also noted that cooperation with U.S. intelligence has significantly improved the Ukrainian military's ability to strike Russian targets.
In addition, an intelligence officer from a Baltic country who works with the United States to counter Russia told the publication that CIA operations have become "much more aggressive" than they were under President Joe Biden.
The article highlights the complicated position of CIA Director John Ratcliffe. On the one hand, he advises a president who is at odds with Ukraine's leadership. On the other, he heads an agency that plays a crucial role in Ukraine's defense.
At the same time, the publication notes that Ukrainian officials do not regard Ratcliffe as an unconditional ally because he reports to Trump and could carry out an order to suspend intelligence support if the president decides to make it conditional on Kyiv halting strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The Atlantic's sources believe Ratcliffe understands the threat Russia poses not only to Ukraine but also to the United States and its partners. According to the publication, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth share a similar understanding, although they have also recently echoed Trump's rhetoric.
The CIA director also likely advised Zelenskyy on how to communicate with the U.S. president.
The publication also mentions disruptions to the Starlink satellite system and U.S. early-warning capabilities that made it more difficult to detect Russian missiles.
However, the United States has not officially stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, although Trump "could take such measures at any moment."
According to people familiar with Ratcliffe's work, if the president issues such an order, the CIA director is unlikely to try to persuade him to change his position, despite concerns within the agency.
U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine
On Oct. 19, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alex Raufoglu reported that the United States had again failed to warn Ukraine overnight about Russia's use of ballistic missiles. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later confirmed the report.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio could not confirm whether Ukraine had failed to receive an advance warning about Russia's ballistic missile attack on Kyiv through intelligence-sharing channels.
Earlier, on Oct. 18, Zelenskyy said that the United States had resumed intelligence sharing with Ukraine after it was reportedly suspended over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine had not received intelligence on Russian ballistic missile attacks for three days before the resumption.
Zelenskyy previously clarified that Ukraine receives intelligence from many countries, but the United States specifically provides information on Russian ballistic missile launches.
On Oct. 20, Zelenskyy said intelligence sharing with the United States was operational again, allowing Ukrainian authorities to warn the public in advance about ballistic missile threats.
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