CIA Director William Burns met in Ankara, Turkey Monday with Russia’s SVR chief Sergei Naryshkin to warn against the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine and to discuss Americans being held by Russia, according to Biden officials. The meeting comes a month after Joe Biden warned the U.S. was on the brink of nuclear “Armageddon” with Russia over Ukraine.
CIA Director William Burns, file screen image.
CNN’s Natasha Bertrand reported on the spin on the meeting, “New: CIA Director Bill Burns is meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Naryshkin in Ankara today to discuss detained US citizens and nuclear risk, NSC spokesperson tells me, confirming Kommersant. Spox emphasizes tho that Burns is “not conducting negotiations of any kind.”…“He is not discussing settlement of the war in Ukraine,” spokesperson says. “He is conveying a message on the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons by Russia, and the risks of escalation to strategic stability. He will also raise the cases of unjustly detained US citizens.”
“He is not discussing settlement of the war in Ukraine,” spokesperson says. “He is conveying a message on the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons by Russia, and the risks of escalation to strategic stability. He will also raise the cases of unjustly detained US citizens.”
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) November 14, 2022
The secret meeting was first reported by a Russian news outlet.
Russia’s Kommersant newspaper leaks secret US-Russian talks in Ankara. Moscow is represented by Foreign Intelligence Chief Sergei Naryshkin, whose US counterpart should be @CIA‘s Bill Burns.. https://t.co/Rc69lY8sAi
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) November 14, 2022
White House spokesman statement:
NEW: White House spokesperson on CIA Director’s meeting with his Russian counterpart in Turkey — pic.twitter.com/xW6TTrwucZ
— Alex Ward (@alexbward) November 14, 2022
Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency hosted the meeting, reported TRT: “Communications Director Fahrettin Altun confirms US-Russia intelligence meeting in Türkiye, tells AP:- Türkiye will continue to negotiate with all relevant parties for peace
– Meeting was related to threats against int’l security, starting with use of nuclear weapons…Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT) hosts meeting in Ankara between head of CIA and his Russian counterpart”
Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT) hosts meeting in Ankara between head of CIA and his Russian counterpart pic.twitter.com/UxDfk2bxRw
— TRT World (@trtworld) November 14, 2022
Biden told reporters Monday he discussed the threat of Russia using nuclear weapons with Chinese dictator Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia:
I was also clear that China and the United States should be able to work together where we can to solve global challenges that require every nation to do its part.
We discussed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, reaffirmed our shared belief in the threat where the use of nuclear weapons is totally unacceptable
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in late October he had no plans to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine (via AP excerpt):
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday denied having any intentions of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine but described the conflict there as part of alleged efforts by the West to secure its global domination, which he insisted are doomed to fail.
Speaking at a conference of international foreign policy experts, Putin said it’s pointless for Russia to strike Ukraine with nuclear weapons.
“We see no need for that,” Putin said. “There is no point in that, neither political, nor military.”
Putin said an earlier warning of his readiness to use “all means available to protect Russia” didn’t amount to nuclear saber-rattling but was merely a response to Western statements about their possible use of nuclear weapons.
Bloomberg reported the meeting in Turkey was about fears of Russia using a false flag dirty bomb, “CIA Director William Burns met with his Russian counterpart in Turkey amid concern Moscow may set off a “dirty bomb” that would spread radioactive material and blame it on Ukrainian forces”
CIA Director William Burns met with his Russian counterpart in Turkey amid concern Moscow may set off a “dirty bomb” that would spread radioactive material and blame it on Ukrainian forces https://t.co/MJAuUSRmgL
— Bloomberg (@business) November 14, 2022
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