Forget the diplomatic photo-ops — Britain’s spymaster just called the Kremlin’s bluff. MI6 chief Richard Moore told a packed room in Istanbul there’s “absolutely no evidence” Vladimir Putin actually wants peace in Ukraine, painting the Russian president as a man doubling down on empire while misreading both the battlefield and the world.
Richard Moore, head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), said bluntly there’s “absolutely no evidence” Putin wants negotiations. Speaking in Istanbul as he prepares to step down, Moore argued that Putin is “stringing us along” and attempting to impose imperial aims “by all means at his disposal.” The long war in Ukraine, he said, has not produced the bargain some hoped for — Moscow has repeatedly rebuffed ceasefire offers and summit proposals.
Moore argued that the invasion backfired on Russia: instead of winning a quick victory, Putin “bit off more than he could chew.” The war, Moore said, has accelerated Ukrainian national identity and pushed Kyiv firmly westward — even nudging Sweden and Finland into NATO. In short: the invasion strengthened the country it aimed to dominate.
Moore pointed to public statements and patterns of conduct by Russian leaders as part of his case. He accused Kremlin rhetoric and military action of signaling intent that cannot be reconciled with a genuine peace push. He also invoked a vivid image — likening a call from Putin to “Pavlov’s tinkling bell” that elicits scripted responses inside the Kremlin — to underscore how isolated decision-making has become.
The MI6 chief warned Putin is “mortgaging his country’s future for his own personal legacy,” arguing that the war is accelerating Russia’s decline. Analysts cited by Moore worry Moscow hopes to wear down Western resolve; Moore’s message is the opposite: international support for Ukraine has hardened, and time has not worked in Putin’s favor.
Alongside his speech, MI6 unveiled “Silent Courier,” a dark-web portal designed for secure contact with potential intelligence sources — including Russians willing to pass on information. Moore framed the move as an open invitation: anyone, anywhere, with credible intelligence on terrorism or hostile activity can contact MI6.
Moore’s talk is also a send-off: he leaves the post at month’s end and noted Britain will soon get its first female head of MI6. His message was both a warning about Moscow’s aims and a signal to would-be informants that the service is actively recruiting. If nothing else, the speech makes clear: the intelligence community expects the Ukraine war to stay central to global security for the foreseeable future.
