US intelligence warned Russia of depleted resources before CIA chief's Moscow visit

Ahead of a visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow, US intelligence gathered information suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the United States is weakened by its six-month conflict with Iran. This perceived vulnerability, according to sources cited by The Washington Post, has led the Kremlin to see an opportunity to intensify actions against US interests and allies in Europe.

Sources familiar with the matter indicated that Ratcliffe's trip was not primarily driven by Putin being cornered militarily, but rather by Russia's assessment that "our resources are depleted, and we might not be able to intervene if necessary." The exact nature of the intelligence and the level of certainty among CIA analysts regarding Putin's assessments remain undisclosed.

During his visit, Ratcliffe reportedly warned Russian officials that continued escalation in Ukraine could push US President Donald Trump towards greater support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The CIA director also reaffirmed the US commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

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Russia believes our resources are depleted, and we might not be able to intervene if necessary.

These intelligence findings emerged amid reports of depleted US military resources stemming from operations against Iran. Media outlets have noted significant reductions in stockpiles of air defense systems like Patriot, as well as Tomahawk and ATACMS missiles. The US reportedly lost about a quarter of its Reaper drones during actions against Iran. However, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other administration officials have publicly refuted claims of ammunition shortages.

Adding to the complexity, some high-ranking White House officials were reportedly unaware of Ratcliffe's visit in advance. The Wall Street Journal also reported that the CIA doubts the accuracy of information Putin receives from his advisors regarding the war's progress and Russian losses. Ratcliffe allegedly conveyed to FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov that Moscow should initiate serious peace negotiations, given the challenging military and economic situation.

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If Moscow continues to escalate the situation in Ukraine, Trump will be pushed to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's side.