Russia's Chief Intel Discusses Ukraine's Problems With CIA Boss, President Zelensky's Adviser: Has No Influence

JAKARTA - Russia's intelligence chief confirmed talks with Russia's intelligence boss last month, discussing the conflict in Ukraine even though Kyiv had previously confirmed no other country was allowed to negotiate the matter.

Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin said he had a telephone conversation with the Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns at the end of last June, where the two were "thinking and discussing what to do about Ukraine."

"Yes, indeed, a conversation happened at the end of last month. In my opinion, the June 24 incident (the Wagner Group insurgency) was an excuse for a phone call from a colleague of mine in America. Obviously how I answered a question (Burns) about what happened (on that day)," said Naryshkin, as quoted from TASS July 13.

"In my opinion, it's just an excuse (to set up a phone call), because most conversations are focused on discussing Ukraine and events around it. We are thinking about and discussing what to do about Ukraine," he said.

The head of the SVR continued, the conversation lasted about an hour, adding that the opportunity for his direct meeting with Burns was very possible.

"We did not agree on a meeting (during the telephone conversation at the end of June), but such a possibility remains, both telephone conversations and direct meetings remain possible," he explained.

Commenting on media reports about Burns' visit to Ukraine in June, Naryshkin said: "During our telephone conversation, Burns' topic of visit to Kyiv was not touched at all."

Regarding the Ukraine conflict, Naryshkin said the current conditions had not been'silent' to hold Moscow negotiations with Kyiv.

"The fact that negotiations will become possible sooner or later is a natural thing because every conflict, including armed conflict, ends in negotiations. However, conditions for that still need to be finalized," he said.

Separately, asked about this, Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said it had no effect.

"Today, someone like Naryshkin has no influence on how this war will end," he told Reuters.

Podolyak further said Russia lost the war and there was no way there could be negotiations with people like Naryshkin.

"This Russian Elite understands that events are completely inadequate, so there is nothing to talk about with them," he stressed.

Ukraine, which launched a retaliatory attack last month, said it would not enter talks at this time, as it could effectively freeze the situation on the battlefield, where Russia has seized more than a sixth of its territory.

Burns and Naryshkin themselves have maintained communication lines since the start of Ukraine's war, at a time when other direct contacts between Moscow and Washington were at their minimum, with relations at their lowest point since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. The CIA declined to comment on his statement.

Earlier, Ukraine said other countries should not negotiate its future on its behalf. Uncle Sam's own country has repeatedly supported this principle, which it describes as "meanless to Ukraine without Ukraine".