CIA Boss Contacted The Head Of Russian Intelligence In Turkey: Basic Nuclear Weapons To Prisoners

William Burns (right) and Sergei Naryshkin. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of State/Svklimkin)

JAKARTA - Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns met with Russian intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin Monday, discussing the consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, to the issue of US detainees in Russia, a White House official said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Russian news agencies that the meeting of the head of US-Russian intelligence took place in the Turkish capital, Ankara, but declined to provide details on the participants or topics discussed.

Meanwhile, a White House spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Burns met Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service.

It was the first known US-Russian high-face contact since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

"He did not negotiate in any form. He did not discuss the settlement of the war in Ukraine," the spokesman said.

"He conveyed a message about the consequences of Russia's use of nuclear weapons, and the risk of an escalation of strategic stability. He also raised the case of US citizens who were detained unfairly," he explained.

Burns is a former US ambassador to Russia sent to Moscow in late 2021 by President Joe Biden, to warn President Putin of the buildup of troops around Ukraine.

"We told Ukraine earlier on its way. We firmly adhere to our basic principles: there is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," the spokesman said.

President Putin has repeatedly said Russia will defend its territory by all means available, including nuclear weapons, if attacked. He said the West had been involved in nuclear extortion against Russia.

US-Russian contacts in Turkey were first reported by the Russian Kommersant newspaper. The SVR did not respond to a request for comment.

Beyond the war, Russia and the United States have a number of outstanding issues to discuss, ranging from extending the nuclear weapons reduction agreement and the Black Sea grain deal, to possible exchanges of prisoners and Syrian civil war.

Earlier, President Biden said some time ago, he hoped President Putin would be willing to seriously discuss the exchange to secure the release of US basketball star Britney Griner, who has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian colony on drug charges.

In addition, US ex-Marine Paul Whelan, who holds American, British, Canadian and Irish passports, was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in Russian prison after being found guilty of spying, a charge he denies.

Meanwhile, Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer jailed in the United States, is touted as a person exchangeable for Griner and Whelan in exchange for any detainees.