Shea Levin — text status

CIA Director John Ratcliffe secretly visited Moscow this week to deliver a U.S. intelligence assessment warning that Russia’s military and economic position in Ukraine is worsening and urging Moscow to reach a deal, The New York Times reports. Ratcliffe delivered the message directly to FSB chief Aleksandr Bortnikov, saying Russia had captured only about 1% of Ukrainian territory over the past 18 months while suffering mounting losses, with the life expectancy of a Russian frontline soldier estimated at under 35 minutes. U.S. officials hope Putin may view a direct CIA assessment as more credible than conventional diplomatic messages.