CIA Director John Ratcliffe said on Wednesday that intelligence sharing with Ukraine was suspended along with military aid to force his administration to work with the Trump administration to end the war with Russia.
Ratcliffe spoke at Fox Business to express his appreciation for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement on Tuesday praising President Trump and insisting that he supports peace with Russia. Mr Ratcliffe said he believes intelligence sharing will be restored.
“President Zelensky issued a statement saying, ‘I am ready for peace and I hope President Donald Trump’s leadership can achieve this peace.” “So, I think in terms of military fronts and intelligence, I think this will disappear the pause, and I think we will fight alongside Ukraine like we do to retreat to the aggressiveness there. ”
Officials differ on whether the U.S. will continue to share intelligence after Mr. Trump ordered the cessation of military aid. An official said all intelligence that had no direct relationship with protecting the Ukrainian army was put on hold. Another official said the exception covers most intelligence sharing, and information is still flowing to Ukrainian forces.
Mr Ratcliffe said on Wednesday that Mr Trump asked for a moratorium on intelligence sharing. His comments suggest that the CIA has temporarily shelved its intelligence sharing with Ukraine for at least some time.
Trump administration officials said the suspension was a warning to Ukrainians if they did not cooperate with Mr. Trump’s peace plan, the consequences. The details of these plans are not yet clear. Mr. Trump has spoken seriously about Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose aides endorsed the country’s idea of ending the war.
But European countries are trying to develop their own plans that can beat Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky.
