Richard Moore Says Russian President Is ‘Stringing Us Along,’ Underestimated Ukrainians
ISTANBUL — The outgoing head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Sir Richard Moore, stated in his final public address that there is “absolutely no evidence” that Russian President Vladimir Putin is genuinely interested in a negotiated peace in Ukraine. Speaking at the British consulate in Istanbul, Moore, who is stepping down at the end of September, said Putin is “stringing us along.”
Moore, who has led MI6 for five years, accused Putin of lying to the world, to his people, and “perhaps even to himself.” He asserted that the Russian leader is “mortgaging his country’s future for his own personal legacy and a distorted version of history” and that the war is “accelerating this decline.”
The British spy chief’s comments come amid recent renewed efforts by the US and other Western nations to push for a settlement, including recent diplomatic meetings. However, Moore’s assessment directly counters the notion that Putin is open to a diplomatic solution, suggesting that any overtures are a pretense. “He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal,” Moore said. “But he cannot succeed.”
Moore reiterated his long-held view that Putin gravely miscalculated when he launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022. “Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he — and many others — underestimated the Ukrainians.”
During his speech, Moore also used the opportunity to launch a new MI6 initiative to recruit spies, including within Russia, via a secure messaging platform on the dark web called “Silent Courier.” He called on Russian citizens to contact the agency to “bring peace to our continent” and “redeem the honour of your country.”
The intelligence assessment follows a recent state visit by US President Donald Trump to the UK, where he publicly expressed frustration with the lack of progress, stating that Putin had “really let me down” in peace efforts. Despite these diplomatic frustrations, Moore’s stark message from the intelligence community suggests that a resolution to the conflict is not on the horizon.
