Iraq, 20 Years Later: A Changed Washington and a Terrible Toll on America

The White House, Congress, the military and the intelligence agencies see the war as a lesson in failed policymaking, one deeply absorbed if not thoroughly learned.

#central-intelligence-agency, #defense-department, #energy-department, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #iraq-war-2003-11, #joint-chiefs-of-staff, #national-security-agency, #national-security-council, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces, #veterans, #veterans-affairs-department

Foreign Adversaries ‘Very Unlikely’ to Blame for Havana Syndrome, Intelligence Review Finds

The assessment concluded that there was no credible evidence that any adversaries had developed a weapon capable of causing the injuries that U.S. officials have reported.

#burns-william-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #havana-syndrome, #united-states-politics-and-government

What to Know About Section 702, the Post-9/11 Surveillance Law

Skepticism about security agencies and surveillance by Republicans allied with former President Donald J. Trump may bolster traditional liberal and libertarian critics of a post-Sept. 11 law.

#central-intelligence-agency, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act-fisa, #house-of-representatives, #senate, #surveillance-of-citizens-by-government, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government

Doctor Denounces C.I.A. Practice of ‘Rectal Feeding’ of Prisoners

In a hearing at Guantánamo Bay, an expert gave a graphic public depiction of torture after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

#al-qaeda, #central-intelligence-agency, #crosby-sondra-s, #detainees, #doctors, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #guantanamo-bay-naval-base-cuba, #khan-majid, #mohammed-khalid-shaikh, #nashiri-abd-al-rahim-al, #september-11-2001, #torture, #united-states-politics-and-government

The U.S. Intelligence Playbook to Expose Russia’s Ukraine War Plans

Bolder disclosures are part of a larger effort to stymie the Kremlin’s offensive in Ukraine and align support for Kyiv’s war effort in allied countries.

#arms-trade, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #blinken-antony-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #china, #classified-information-and-state-secrets, #crimea-ukraine, #defense-and-military-forces, #embargoes-and-sanctions, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #europe, #iran, #russia, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #state-department, #sullivan-jacob-j-1976, #ukraine, #united-states-international-relations, #united-states-politics-and-government

A Russian Mole in Germany Sows Suspicions at Home, and Beyond

A director at Germany’s spy service was picked up on suspicion of passing intelligence to Russia. German officials and allies worry just how deep the problem goes.

#alternative-for-germany, #central-intelligence-agency, #cold-war-era, #defense-and-military-forces, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #europe, #federal-intelligence-service-germany, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #germany, #international-relations, #kgb, #politics-and-government, #putin-vladimir-v, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #stasi-east-germany, #united-states-international-relations

Why the U.S. Keeps Shooting Objects Out of the Sky

After taking down a Chinese spy balloon last week, the U.S. military shot down three other high-flying objects, without knowing exactly what they were.

#audio-neutral-informative, #balloons-aeronautics, #central-intelligence-agency, #china, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #unidentified-flying-objects-ufo, #united-states

Freed Guantánamo Prisoner Has Big Dreams for a New Life in Belize

Majid Khan, a “high-value detainee” at Guantánamo Bay, was released last week after two decades of social isolation.

#al-qaeda, #belize, #caribbean-area, #center-for-constitutional-rights, #central-intelligence-agency, #detainees, #guantanamo-bay-naval-base-cuba, #khan-majid, #prisons-and-prisoners, #september-11-2001, #terrorism, #torture, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces

Chinese Spy Balloon Calls Back to Cold War U-2 Episode

The Chinese balloon saga is reminiscent of the U-2 spy plane incident that provoked a tense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.

#balloons-aeronautics, #central-intelligence-agency, #cold-war-era, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #international-relations, #military-aircraft, #powers-francis-gary-sr, #united-states-international-relations, #ussr-former-soviet-union

Tortured Guantánamo Detainee Is Freed in Belize

Majid Khan, a Pakistani citizen who attended high school in Maryland, finished his sentence last year.

#al-qaeda, #belize, #central-intelligence-agency, #civil-rights-and-liberties, #guantanamo-bay-naval-base-cuba, #hunger-strikes, #international-relations, #khan-majid, #military-tribunals, #politics-and-government, #terrorism, #torture, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces

Biden Leery of Involvement in Potential Plea Deal in Sept. 11 Case

A proposal to end a decade-long attempt to seek the death penalty before a military tribunal carries political risks, but the Trump administration also decided the system failed.

#barr-william-p, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #bush-george-w, #capital-punishment, #central-intelligence-agency, #guantanamo-bay-naval-base-cuba, #krass-caroline-diane, #mohammed-khalid-shaikh, #national-security-council, #september-11-2001, #terrorism, #united-states-politics-and-government

Russia’s War Breathes Life Into Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a news network originally set up as a C.I.A. operation early in the Cold War, is experiencing a renaissance and making a case for its independence.

#central-intelligence-agency, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #ilves-toomas-hendrik, #news-and-news-media, #radio, #radio-free-europe, #radio-free-europe-radio-liberty, #radio-liberty, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #television, #web-original-programming

Gary Hart: The “New Church Committee” Is an Outrage

The new committee seems designed to prevent law enforcement and intelligence agencies from enforcing the law.

#appointments-and-executive-changes, #central-intelligence-agency, #church-frank, #classified-information-and-state-secrets, #constitution-us, #elections, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #house-of-representatives, #human-rights-and-human-rights-violations, #iran-contra-affair, #law-and-legislation, #politics-and-government, #privacy, #reagan-ronald-wilson, #republican-party, #senate, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #united-states-politics-and-government, #washington-dc

New House ‘Weaponization’ Panel Stirs Memories of Joseph McCarthy

Republicans say a special committee to pursue claims of abuse of power is much like a respected 1970s inquiry, but Democrats and historians see darker historical parallels.

#central-intelligence-agency, #conservatism-us-politics, #defense-department, #house-committee-on-un-american-activities, #jordan-jim-1964, #mccarthy-joseph-r, #mccarthy-kevin-1965, #republican-party, #select-subcommittee-on-the-weaponization-of-the-federal-government, #senate-permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations, #united-states-politics-and-government

John F. Kennedy Assassination: US Releases Trove of Related Documents

Researchers said they were just beginning to comb through the 13,173 documents, hoping they might shed further light on the government’s actions before and after Nov. 22, 1963.

#archives-and-records, #assassinations-and-attempted-assassinations, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #book-depository, #central-intelligence-agency, #conspiracy-theories, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #freedom-of-information-act, #kennedy-john-fitzgerald, #murders-attempted-murders-and-homicides, #national-archives-and-records-administration, #nineteen-hundred-sixties, #oswald-lee-harvey, #united-states-politics-and-government, #warren-commission

C.I.A. Director Warns Russian Counterpart Against Using Nuclear Weapons

William Burns’s talks with Russia’s foreign intelligence chief are the most senior in-person meetings since the start of the war in Ukraine.

#burns-william-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #foreign-intelligence-service-russia, #griner-brittney, #international-relations, #naryshkin-sergei-y, #nuclear-weapons, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #united-states-international-relations, #whelan-paul-n

Sept. 11 Case Awaits Biden Administration’s Reply on Plea Deal

The judge has postponed hearings in the case. A proposed agreement would avert a death-penalty trial for the five defendants.

#capital-punishment, #central-intelligence-agency, #courts-and-the-judiciary, #decisions-and-verdicts, #defense-department, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #guantanamo-bay-naval-base-cuba, #mccall-matthew-n, #military-tribunals, #mohammed-khalid-shaikh, #prisons-and-prisoners, #torture

White House Tightens Rules on Counterterrorism Drone Strikes

A classified new policy requires President Biden’s approval to add suspected terrorists to a kill list. The Trump administration had decentralized control over targeting decisions.

#afghanistan, #afghanistan-war-2001, #al-qaeda, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #central-intelligence-agency, #civilian-casualties, #defense-department, #drones-pilotless-planes, #iraq, #shabab, #somalia, #syria, #taliban, #targeted-killings, #terrorism, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces, #war-and-armed-conflicts

The Spy Who Escaped the Eye of the Storm

Porter J. Goss, the former C.I.A. director and a longtime Florida congressman, was one of the founding fathers of devastated Sanibel.

#central-intelligence-agency, #coastal-areas, #federal-aid-us, #goss-porter-j, #hurricane-ian-2022, #mayors, #sanibel-island-fla

Renovated C.I.A. and N.S.A. Museums Offer a Peek at Spy Secrets — for Some

The Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency both recently overhauled their showcases of espionage.

#central-intelligence-agency, #cryptography-codes-and-ciphers, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #international-spy-museum, #museums, #national-cryptologic-museum, #national-security-agency, #washington-dc

Ukrainian Officials Drew on U.S. Intelligence to Plan Counteroffensive

Overcoming a reluctance to share their strategy, the Ukrainians were able to use U.S. resources to identify key Russian targets.

#central-intelligence-agency, #defense-and-military-forces, #defense-department, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #ukraine

CIA Director Said Putin’s Ukraine Invasion Looks Like a ‘Failure’

William J. Burns said that counterattacks in the south and northeast showed that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had underestimated Ukraine’s capacity for combat.

#burns-william-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #putin-vladimir-v, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #ukraine

Trump’s Tastes in Intelligence Were About His Power and Leverage

President Donald J. Trump’s interests during classified briefings have a new resonance amid the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into his handling of sensitive documents.

#central-intelligence-agency, #classified-information-and-state-secrets, #defense-department, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #justice-department, #mar-a-lago-palm-beach-fla, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government

Trump Inquiry Fueled in Part by Concern Over Intelligence Sources

Documents related to the work of clandestine sources are some of the most sensitive and protected in the government. F.B.I. agents found some in boxes retrieved from Donald J. Trump’s home.

#central-intelligence-agency, #classified-information-and-state-secrets, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #justice-department, #mar-a-lago-palm-beach-fla, #national-security-agency, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government

U.S. Warns Russia May Attack Civilians in Ukraine

The American Embassy in Kyiv once again urged American citizens to leave Ukraine.

#central-intelligence-agency, #civilian-casualties, #classified-information-and-state-secrets, #defense-and-military-forces, #defense-department, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #ukraine, #united-states-international-relations, #war-and-armed-conflicts

Donald Trump and American Intelligence’s Years of Conflict

The F.B.I. search of Mar-a-Lago is a coda to the years of tumult between an erratic president and the nation’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

#central-intelligence-agency, #classified-information-and-state-secrets, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #mar-a-lago-palm-beach-fla, #trump-donald-j, #twitter, #united-states-politics-and-government

How the C.I.A. Tracked Ayman al-Zawahri, the Leader of Al Qaeda

The U.S. search for Ayman al-Zawahri had spanned decades. His presence on a balcony at a safe house in Kabul presented an opportunity to strike.

#afghanistan, #afghanistan-war-2001, #al-qaeda, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #bin-laden-osama, #central-intelligence-agency, #defense-department, #drones-pilotless-planes, #haqqani-network, #pakistan, #september-11-2001, #taliban, #terrorism, #zawahri-ayman-al

Al-Zawahri’s Death Puts the Focus Back on Al Qaeda

The terrorist network has lost eight of its top leaders in recent years. But it has more total fighters than it did on Sept. 11, 2001.

#afghanistan, #afghanistan-war-2001, #al-qaeda, #al-qaeda-in-the-arabian-peninsula, #central-intelligence-agency, #islamic-state-in-iraq-and-syria-isis, #sahel-africa, #shabab, #somalia, #syria, #targeted-killings, #terrorism, #yemen, #zawahri-ayman-al

U.S. Drone Strike Said to Have Killed Ayman al-Zawahri, Top Qaeda Leader

The strike, carried out over the weekend, was the first attack since American forces left Afghanistan last year.

#afghanistan, #al-qaeda, #central-intelligence-agency, #defense-department, #drones-pilotless-planes, #taliban, #targeted-killings, #terrorism, #united-states-international-relations, #united-states-politics-and-government

Colombia’s Truth Commission Is Highly Critical of U.S. Policy

Its report estimates that 450,000 people were killed in the decades-long internal conflict — more than twice the number previously thought.

#central-intelligence-agency, #colombia, #defense-and-military-forces, #drug-abuse-and-traffic, #human-rights-and-human-rights-violations, #politics-and-government, #revolutionary-armed-forces-of-colombia

Kansas Woman Who Joined ISIS Left a ‘Trail of Betrayal’

Allison Fluke-Ekren, a Muslim convert from Kansas, rose through the ranks of the Islamic State in Syria, where she provided military training to women and girls, including her daughter.

#baghdadi-abu-bakr-al, #central-intelligence-agency, #diplomatic-service-embassies-and-consulates, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #fluke-ekren-allison, #islamic-state-in-iraq-and-syria-isis, #propaganda, #terrorism, #united-states-international-relations, #war-and-armed-conflicts

Gina Haspel Observed Waterboarding at C.I.A. Black Site, Psychologist Testifies

The testimony emerged in pretrial hearings in the Cole bombing case at Guantánamo Bay, where the war court is wrestling with the legacy of torture after 9/11.

#central-intelligence-agency, #cole-uss, #detainees, #guantanamo-bay-naval-base-cuba, #haspel-gina, #interrogations, #mitchell-james-e, #nashiri-abd-al-rahim-al, #september-11-2001, #terrorism, #thailand, #torture, #war-crimes-genocide-and-crimes-against-humanity, #waterboarding

The Casualties at the Other End of the Remote-Controlled Kill

Capt. Kevin Larson was one of the best drone pilots in the U.S. Air Force. Yet as the job weighed on him and untold others, the military failed to recognize its full impact. He fled into the California wilderness.

#afghanistan, #afghanistan-war-2001, #al-qaeda, #central-intelligence-agency, #civilian-casualties, #defense-department, #drones-pilotless-planes, #drug-abuse-and-traffic, #indian-springs-nev, #islamic-state-in-iraq-and-syria-isis, #mental-health-and-disorders, #military-aircraft, #pilots, #post-traumatic-stress-disorder, #shaw-air-force-base-sc, #syria, #taliban, #terrorism, #united-states, #united-states-air-force, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces, #united-states-special-operations-command, #veterans, #war-and-armed-conflicts

C.I.A. Director Says Putin Might Consider Nuclear Weapons

William J. Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, cautioned that he had seen no “practical evidence” that would suggest such a move was imminent.

#burns-william-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #nuclear-weapons, #putin-vladimir-v, #russia, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #sullivan-jacob-j-1976, #ukraine, #united-states-international-relations, #war-and-armed-conflicts

William Burns, Head of the CIA, Tests Positive For Covid

William J. Burns got the positive result a day after meeting with President Biden.

#burns-william-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #united-states-politics-and-government

The 9/11 Trial: Why Are Plea Bargain Talks Underway?

New leadership, an ever receding trial date and pressure to disclose more information about the C.I.A. torture of the accused plotters all contribute.

#al-qaeda, #attash-walid-muhammad-salih-bin, #capital-punishment, #central-intelligence-agency, #detainees, #military-tribunals, #mohammed-khalid-shaikh, #qahtani-mohammed-al, #september-11-2001, #shibh-ramzi-muhammad-abdullah-bin-al, #terrorism, #torture, #war-crimes-genocide-and-crimes-against-humanity

Spy Agencies Cite Russia’s Setbacks but Say Putin Is ‘Unlikely to Be Deterred’

Top U.S. intelligence officials told Congress that the Russian leader had underestimated Ukrainian resolve and Western cohesion but was “doubling down” to achieve his goals.

#burns-william-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #defense-and-military-forces, #defense-intelligence-agency, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #haines-avril-d, #house-committee-on-intelligence, #nakasone-paul-m, #national-security-agency, #office-of-the-director-of-national-intelligence, #putin-vladimir-v, #russia, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #ukraine, #united-states-international-relations

Ukraine Crisis: What Happens Next for the Rest of the World?

Europe faces a new refugee crisis, and harsh economic penalties to punish Russia are expected to reverberate worldwide.

#banking-and-financial-institutions, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #blinken-antony-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #defense-department, #economic-conditions-and-trends, #embargoes-and-sanctions, #international-trade-and-world-market, #north-atlantic-treaty-organization, #oil-petroleum-and-gasoline, #refugees-and-displaced-persons, #russia, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #state-department, #treasury-department, #ukraine, #united-states-agency-for-international-development, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces, #united-states-international-relations, #united-states-politics-and-government, #war-and-armed-conflicts

Arab Rulers and Spy Chiefs Stashed Millions in Swiss Bank

A leak of account data from Credit Suisse revealed the holdings of powerful figures across the Middle East, raising new questions about self-dealing.

#abdullah-ii-king-of-jordan, #banking-and-financial-institutions, #bin-said-qaboos, #central-intelligence-agency, #corruption-institutional, #credit-suisse-group-ag, #egypt, #jordan, #middle-east, #mubarak-alaa, #mubarak-gamal, #mubarak-hosni, #oman, #politics-and-government, #rania-queen-of-jordan, #suddeutsche-zeitung, #suleiman-omar, #switzerland

Peter Earnest, C.I.A. Veteran Who Ran a Spy Museum, Dies at 88

He ran secret agents and later served as the agency’s spokesman. Both roles prepared him well for his role as the International Spy Museum’s first director.

#central-intelligence-agency, #classified-information-and-state-secrets, #deaths-obituaries, #earnest-peter-1934-2022, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #international-spy-museum, #museums

Putin’s Motives Pose a Challenge for U.S. Intelligence Agencies

Knowing the intentions of any autocratic leader is difficult, but President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who began his career as a K.G.B. officer, poses a particular challenge.

#central-intelligence-agency, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #putin-vladimir-v, #russia, #ukraine, #united-states, #united-states-international-relations, #war-and-armed-conflicts

Court Filing Started a Furor in Right-Wing Outlets, but Their Narrative Is Off Track

The latest alarmist claims about spying on Trump appeared to be flawed, but the explanation is byzantine — underlining the challenge for journalists in deciding what merits coverage.

#alfa-group-consortium, #barr-william-p, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #central-intelligence-agency, #clinton-hillary-rodham, #democratic-party, #durham-john-h, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #fox-news-channel, #garland-merrick-b, #rumors-and-misinformation, #russian-interference-in-2016-us-elections-and-ties-to-trump-associates, #sussmann-michael, #trump-donald-j

CIA collecting bulk data on Americans without oversight, senators say

CIA collecting bulk data on Americans without oversight, senators say

Enlarge (credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Two US senators have asked the Central Intelligence Agency to release the details of a secret bulk data collection program that has apparently ensnared Americans.

Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) wrote the director of national intelligence and the CIA (PDF), asking them to declassify a review of a CIA program known as “Deep Dive II,” the details of which were redacted from their letter. The letter was written in April 2021 but was classified until yesterday.

The secret CIA program is operated under the authority of Executive Order 12333, which former President Ronald Reagan issued in 1981. It has been used to justify bulk data collection of people in the US, including phone calls, SMS messages, and, until recently, email metadata. That practice was limited by a 2015 reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, which banned the bulk collection of phone and SMS metadata by the FBI.

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#bulk-data-collection, #central-intelligence-agency, #cia, #civil-liberties, #fisa, #intelligence-agencies, #policy

C.I.A. Is Collecting in Bulk Certain Data Affecting Americans, Senators Warn

A partly declassified letter from two senators, Ron Wyden and Martin Heinrich, does not say what the data is.

#central-intelligence-agency, #heinrich-martin, #privacy-and-civil-liberties-oversight-board, #surveillance-of-citizens-by-government, #united-states-politics-and-government, #wyden-ron

Some Havana Syndrome Cases May Stem From Radio Energy, Panel Says

A group of experts found that not all injuries to diplomats and C.I.A. officers could be explained by stress or psychosomatic reactions.

#central-intelligence-agency, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #havana-cuba, #havana-syndrome, #office-of-the-director-of-national-intelligence, #wiretapping-and-other-eavesdropping-devices-and-methods

Biden Administration Rejects Use of Testimony Obtained From Torture in Guantánamo Trial

The Justice Department rejected an interpretation by the retired chief prosecutor that lawyers could sometimes use statements obtained during C.I.A. interrogations.

#al-qaeda, #central-intelligence-agency, #cole-uss, #detainees, #guantanamo-bay-naval-base-cuba, #military-tribunals, #nashiri-abd-al-rahim-al, #september-11-2001, #terrorism, #torture

The Battle for the World’s Most Powerful Cyberweapon

A Times investigation reveals how Israel reaped diplomatic gains around the world from NSO’s Pegasus spyware — a tool America itself purchased but is now trying to ban.

#apple-inc, #arms-trade, #central-intelligence-agency, #commerce-department, #cyberwarfare-and-defense, #defense-and-military-forces, #djibouti, #drug-enforcement-administration, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #facebook-inc, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #google-inc, #government-contracts-and-procurement, #human-rights-and-human-rights-violations, #international-relations, #israel, #justice-department, #khashoggi-jamal, #martinelli-ricardo, #mexico, #mohammed-bin-salman-1985, #mohammed-bin-zayed, #mossad, #netanyahu-benjamin, #niv-karmi, #nso-group, #omri-lavie, #panama, #privacy, #raytheon-company, #saudi-arabia, #secret-service, #shalev-hulio, #smartphones, #sullivan-jacob-j-1976, #surveillance-of-citizens-by-government, #united-arab-emirates, #united-states-africa-command, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces, #washington-post, #wireless-communications

C.I.A.-Backed Afghan Fighters Are Still Waiting to Reach U.S.

Commandos who played a key role in helping American forces are waiting for visas in the United Arab Emirates, and are among the last of the evacuated Afghans to get a chance to reach the United States.

#afghanistan, #afghanistan-war-2001, #central-intelligence-agency, #refugees-and-displaced-persons, #state-department, #united-arab-emirates, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces, #united-states-international-relations, #united-states-politics-and-government, #visas

U.S. and Russia Take More Measured Stance in Ukraine Talks

The conciliatory tone and absence of ultimatums suggested that both sides were trying to keep tensions in check and give diplomacy time.

#belarus, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #blinken-antony-j, #central-intelligence-agency, #defense-and-military-forces, #guterres-antonio, #lavrov-sergey-v, #north-atlantic-treaty-organization, #politics-and-government, #putin-vladimir-v, #russia, #ukraine, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces, #united-states-international-relations, #war-and-armed-conflicts