Pricey Mr. President:
I’m hoping you bear in mind me. I spent about 90 minutes with you and far of your cupboard within the Oval Workplace within the spring of 2017, once I was requested to satisfy with you to debate points associated to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Federation.
I’ll always remember the expertise of talking with you, the President of the US, and can all the time bear in mind what it was like sitting throughout from you within the Oval Workplace – essentially the most highly effective chief on the earth (and a fellow New Yorker). Most CIA Officers by no means get the chance to spend time within the White Home briefing the Company’s primary “client” and I used to be deeply grateful for the chance.
There have been many moments that struck me as vital throughout our assembly that I’ll always remember. Whereas discussing one thing – that I can’t focus on publicly – associated to Russian President Vladimir Putin, I instructed you that I didn’t agree with a degree you made. As an alternative of getting offended or kicking me out of your workplace, you requested me to clarify why I disagreed and after I did, you thanked me for sharing my insights. Mr. President, given what’s taking place with Russia proper now, I really feel compelled to show to you once more to reinitiate our dialogue.
The Cipher Temporary brings unparalleled expert-level context to nationwide and international safety tales. It’s by no means been extra vital to know what’s taking place on the earth. Improve your entry to unique content material by changing into a Subscriber+ Member now.
Rather a lot has modified since 2017. Since retiring from the CIA in Could 2023, I’ve traveled to Ukraine a number of instances and have seen firsthand, the horrible impression that Vladimir Putin’s battle towards Ukraine has had on the Ukrainian individuals. The vast majority of Ukrainians right now help your need to deliver this unprovoked battle to an finish. However it’s now clear that Putin is stringing the world alongside by claiming he desires to debate “peace” whereas persevering with to wage battle. It additionally appears clear now that the one method to deliver an finish to this battle is to drive Putin to barter by considerably growing stress on the Kremlin.
Earlier than your re-election in November 2024, many Ukrainians I spoke with expressed the view that solely you would finish the battle due to the 2 U.S. Presidential candidates, you had been the one Putin feared since you had already demonstrated your willingness to take decisive motion towards the Kremlin. They believed that you simply had each the desire and the energy to face as much as Putin and clarify to him that if he continued to pursue his aggression towards Ukraine – killing harmless individuals – he would pay a major value.
I agreed with these Ukrainians and infrequently reminded interlocutors and commentators that in my 34-year profession within the U.S. Authorities, you had been the primary President who I believed was prepared to carry the Kremlin accountable when it threatened U.S. and allied pursuits. I argued to audiences within the U.S. that in your first time period within the White Home you took decisive motion towards Russia when needed. You had been smart sufficient to know when to face as much as Russian threats, reply to Moscow’s aggressive conduct and terminate U.S. participation in treaties and agreements that Moscow refused to abide by.
Sadly, Putin has refused to hearken to your appeals to discover a peaceable answer to finish the combating in Ukraine. Regardless of your repeated efforts to have interaction, he isn’t taking the steps wanted to help the beginning of significant negotiations. The Russian president refused to journey to Istanbul in mid-Could to satisfy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regardless of your finest efforts along with the efforts of Turkish President Erdogan. As an alternative, he despatched a low-level delegation to Türkiye, even after you provided to amend your journey to the area and journey to that nation to help a gathering between the Ukrainian and Russian Presidents. He then expanded his assaults on Ukraine, destroying extra civilian infrastructure and killing harmless individuals.
Putin is attempting to persuade you that he’s extra highly effective than he actually is. The Russian economic system is struggling beneath Western sanctions. Russian society is feeling the strains of the battle, which has price their inhabitants dearly. Whereas it’s true that the Russians might have “a excessive threshold for ache”, they’re nonetheless moms and dads who’re rising bored with seeing their youngsters despatched off to die on the battlefields of Ukraine whereas they face growing hardships at residence.
Historical past has proven that the Russian individuals even have a “breaking level” and won’t tolerate incompetent and egocentric leaders endlessly.
The outcomes of the current “Victory Day” celebrations in Moscow demonstrated how remoted Putin is internationally and his continued insistence on attacking Ukraine and the wakeup name you’ve delivered to our European allies has resulted in even higher decision of the a part of a lot of them to face as much as Putin’s aggression.
The Ukrainian individuals need peace however are prepared to proceed combating to guard their sovereignty. Putin isn’t ready of energy and is bluffing when he acts as if there might be no detrimental penalties if he doesn’t signal a ceasefire settlement with Kyiv.
As an alternative of respecting your efforts to safe a peaceable settlement to the battle, Putin is difficult your authority and insulting you every time he launches new assaults on Ukrainian villages and cities. He won’t cease killing civilians.
It’s insulting to the American individuals each time he launches air strikes towards Kyiv when U.S. officers journey to Ukraine as your representatives or when your Particular Envoy travels to Russia or we host Russian emissaries within the U.S. whereas Moscow continues to kill. Every time Putin permits his Armed Forces to launch assaults, he’s sending the world a message that he doesn’t respect the U.S.
Mr. President, on January 20, you made clear that if Putin didn’t comply with critical negotiations to finish the battle, you’d introduce secondary sanctions on the Russian economic system and considerably enhance stress on the Kremlin. Putin’s refusal to satisfy in Istanbul and his continued large-scale assaults on Ukraine must be seen because the “purple line” that he has crossed, triggering the decisive and powerful response that the American persons are hoping to see.
To finish the battle, it’s time so that you can transfer ahead with the introduction of these sanctions, enhance U.S. navy help to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and place higher stress on these nations that proceed to commerce with Moscow to finish that commerce till Moscow is able to make peace.
As soon as Putin sees that you’re able to name his bluff, then he’ll begin exhibiting an actual willingness to make peace and finish this horrible battle and the individuals round him will notice he’s squandering a possibility to cease the battle and make their nation extra affluent and safe for the long run.
After our assembly Mr. President, a lot of my colleagues and relations requested me what it was like to satisfy with you and the way you handled me throughout our dialogue. I instructed them that all through the assembly you had been extraordinarily gracious, requested glorious questions and appeared sincerely keen on listening to my perspective on points I used to be introduced to debate with you. My sense was that you simply appreciated the truth that I had not simply studied Russia academically however had spent a few years working in Russia and dealing instantly with Russians on a variety of points. You took the time to ask me about my earlier assignments and background. I additionally burdened that earlier than I left the Oval Workplace that day, regardless of your very busy schedule, you took the time to ask me to relay your due to my spouse and sons for all of the sacrifices that they had made all through my profession working for the CIA. This final level was extraordinarily vital for me, as a result of it demonstrated, opposite to the claims of a lot of your opponents within the media, that you simply worth those that serve our nation.
Mr. President, you’ve made clear that you really want Putin to cease the killing. On the subject of Russia, now could be your time to behave on what you worth most.
The Cipher Temporary is dedicated to publishing a variety of views on nationwide safety points submitted by deeply skilled nationwide safety professionals.
Opinions expressed are these of the creator and don’t characterize the views or opinions of The Cipher Temporary.
Have a perspective to share based mostly in your expertise within the nationwide safety discipline? Ship it to Editor@thecipherbrief.com for publication consideration.
Learn extra expert-driven nationwide safety insights, perspective and evaluation in The Cipher Temporary