Western media are reporting that CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow, Russia, to warn his Russian counterpart Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), about striking back against Baltic states. {CITATION} However, that’s only half of the story.
Director Ratcliffe wasn’t simply telling Naryshkin not to hit back; he was telling Naryshkin that European NATO provocations against the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad (between Poland and Lithuania) were not ‘fully’ sanctioned by the United States. {CITATION Aug 18}
EU NATO members have been conducting provocative military operations and psychological warfare via NATO exercises all around Kaliningrad. They have been getting more aggressive with each series of maneuvers. The Trump administration (DoW) recently removed the head of U.S-NATO operations over this background strategy. What the western media will not tell us is that Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commander of the Army’s V Corps, was removed from command over this planned operation {citation Aug 7}.
Apparently, European NATO is increasingly trying to provoke expanded conflict with Russia, while President Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe attempt to tamp down the problems being created. This is all connected to the expanded drone activity recently reported in media (Germany – Leipzig airport and Romania citations}, which looks increasingly like covert Ukraine intelligence operations. There are some reports that western intelligence linked Russia to the Leipzig airport drone, so perhaps Director Ratcliffe also carried that intelligence message.
The bottom line is there’s a lot of sketchy ‘fog of war’ stuff happening, and U.S. intelligence has a responsibility to the Trump administration to try and contain any significant issues involving escalation. Hence, Ratcliffe’s message saying we are not trying to provoke you, so don’t put us in a situation where we end up defending NATO because you retaliate against all of this activity happening outside Ukraine’s borders.
Ukraine intelligence operations blew up the Nordstream pipeline {CITATION}, then dumped it in the lap of Joe Biden and walked away. That hot mess ended up with weeks of the U.S. having to fabricate some alternative narrative that Russia bombed their own pipeline. Ukraine intelligence services also carried out the bombing in Monaco {CITATION} then killed the Ukraine Intelligence asset to cover their tracks. Ukraine intelligence also carried out the bombing in central Moscow {CITATION – Balzi Rossi}.
So, who or what is essentially Ukraine Intelligence?
That’s likely British intelligence (MI6), who have been conducting these covert operations using Ukrainian figures. The same British intelligence that has now sanctioned Storm Shadow missiles for Ukraine to build {CITATION}. Again, more provocation and more urgent need for U.S. officials to try and avoid expanded conflict. Who is the MI6 partner agency, that’s the CIA; that’s where Director John Ratcliffe comes in.
All of this is very alarming to say the least. Europe is essentially doing everything they can to provoke Russia into a retaliatory posture, while the USA is telling Russia not to retaliate. This is how wars get expanded. However, Russia doesn’t pretend not to know things.
Simultaneous to this, Ratcliffe likely also discussed Iran and Syria from an intelligence and strategic U.S. policy position.
The day before Ratcliffe flew to Moscow, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that President Trump had launched several emissary missions around “Operation Economic Outcast”{CITATION}, obviously talks with Russia about the vulnerabilities of sanctioning targeting were a part of that strategic conversation.
In the hours after Ratcliffe departed Moscow, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced: “Today, I authorized the formal rescission of Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), following the conclusion of the mandatory 45-day Congressional notification period. I have also delisted Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). These actions represent another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a path to prosperity.” {CITATION} Russia is a stakeholder in the outcome within Syria.
Yes, John Ratcliffe outlined how Russia should not attack NATO allies; how the U.S. would appreciate support in staying out of Iran, and how President Trump is trying to resolve overall Mideast peace vis-a-vis Syria and beyond.
That’s a more fulsome outline of the key areas of message relayed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to SVR Head Sergey Naryshkin.
Or put another way, what President Trump calls “semi-routine,” but he acknowledged it was about bringing the war to a close. “I hate to disappoint people. We would like to see the war with Ukraine end,” he said. {CITATION}
Semi-related: Within the Ukraine friction points CTH has previously noted we should pay close attention to both Moldova and Romania. We should now add Finland to that list. I am told that Finland is currently on alert for covert Ukraine “intelligence” operations using Finland as a launch region for increased drone attacks toward the St Petersburg region.
Saint Petersburg, Russia, is the fourth-most populous city in Europe, the most populous city on the Baltic Sea, and the world’s northernmost city of more than 1 million residents. As the former capital of the Russian Empire, and a historically strategic Baltic port, it is governed as a federal city. Russian President Vladimir Putin is from there.
NATO is now on its third day of massive air operations over Kaliningrad — and as if that weren’t enough, they’ve pulled the whole package northward and even down over Moldova.
It’s starting to look like someone testing every button on a mixer just to see what happens.What’s…
— Jarl Finland (@jalle51) August 20, 2026
No joke; the President of Finland believes that the path to resolving the Ukrainian conflict lies through the Western destruction of Wildberries pickup points…🤡
"And I think today we are in a much better position than before. I believe there are three things we need to do to… pic.twitter.com/21P3o3d82T
— Mats Nilsson (@mazzenilsson) August 24, 2026
🟥 Finland is directly integrating Ukrainian battlefield data into its defense industrial base, with President Alexander Stubb emphasizing that Kyiv possesses unprecedented expertise in modern high-intensity warfare.
Speaking on the strategic value of frontline data, Stubb noted… pic.twitter.com/sE6MkRZBkA
— NSTRIKE (@NSTRIKE1231) August 27, 2026
❗️This morning, a Swedish reconnaissance aircraft, the S102B Korpen GIV-SP, was conducting surveillance over the Murmansk region and the entire border between Finland and Russia. pic.twitter.com/KFMimYg47E
— Military Summary (@MilitarySummary) August 26, 2026



This chit can get out of hand very quickly.
The US has already made some pretty strong statements to it’s “EU NATO Allies”, lately:
Stopping brigade rotations to Europe.
Drawing down assets levels forward deployed to NATO.
The recent Firing the Commander of US V Corps Troops for supporting this operation, (I will say it) AGAINST ORDERS.
CIA Chief’s visit to Moscow, without prior notice to said EU-NATO Allies.
Suggest two more steps … that do not involve the politically charged leaving NATO decree and well within the authority of the President as commander and chief.
A statement that declares these types of “operations” do not fall under the NATO Charter and the EU-NATO members are acting OUTSIDE the Treaty at their own risk. Can even site from the NATO Charter that “NATO is a defensive alliance”.
Invoke ITAR restrictions on every weapon system possible that involved in transfer or “sell” to the Ukraine.
Russia + US, Latin America, Asia = Allies
EU + Canada, Australia, New Zealand = Axis
I likey this new geopolitical alignment that’s setting up!! I really, really likey!!
What’s old is new again!! Bring it home, PDJT!
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones are still striking at Russia’s economy.
Ukrainian Drones Attack Ozon Warehouses in Overnight Barrage
Ukrainian drones targeted warehouses belonging to Russia’s second-largest online retailer Ozon, as well as industrial infrastructure in the republic of Bashkortostan, the company and Russian media reported Thursday.
Ozon said its logistics center in the regional capital of Ufa was “temporarily closed” for inspections after drones caused “minor damage” to the building. It said incoming seller shipments were being rerouted to other facilities.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/27/ukrainian-drones-attack-ozon-warehouses-in-overnight-barrage-a93583
Putin can end his invasion of Ukraine any time he wants by simply bringing Russian invasion forces home. Putin started it. He can end it.
As for the UK and EU, we’re not going to bail you out again if you attack Russia directly and force another European war. Two times was 2 times too many. You’re on your own this time.
Oh, and we’ve been soft pedaling Iran’s war against us for 49 years. We are ending it now. Anything happens to PDJT, or his family, or anyone in his administration, and all that will be left of Tehran will be photos in history books.
Tired of this crap.
“Putin started it. He can end it.”
Seriously?
Seriously?
SERIOUSLY?
SMH
“Putin started it “. Ha that’s a good one. Why don’t you look up NATO‘s promises to Russia not to expand 1 inch toward its border.
If you review the history of this war you’ll find the limited Russian response was a result of ethnic cleansing carried out against ethnic Russians in the eastern provinces of Ukraine by far right Ukrainian Bandera forces . This genocide was supported by some American politicians including John McCain, Linsey Graham and State Dept official Victoria Nuland.
Oh, you mean like the ethnic cleansing of Ukraine when Stalin starved 7 million Ukrainians to death and replaced them with ethnic Russians in 1932-3? That ethnic cleansing? But WE started it? What flavor of that Russian koolaid have you been drinking? Duginaide?
Sometimes I get bored on Thursday mornings so I kick the rooskyite cage for amusement. Never fails. But we’re missing a couple. Must be napping.
In 1956, President Eisenhower shut down the Suez War by threatening financial sanctions against the UK and France. President Trump needs to do the same here, adding in Germany and the EU.
I was also thinking that Suez is an excellent analogy.
> Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza
> Costanza
I found this article interesting: Syria Is Converting a Russian Military Pier into a Trade Route
FTA: Syria has received its first shipments of wheat and cement at Berth No. 4 in the port of Tartous, a facility previously controlled by Russian forces. On the surface, this appears to be a minor logistical development involving a few cargo vessels. In reality, it symbolizes a major change in the balance of power following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government. A military pier that once supported Russia’s projection of power across the Mediterranean and Africa is being absorbed into Syria’s civilian economy. The first cargoes reportedly arrived through Turkish ports. Military influence is retreating while trade and capital are moving in to replace it.
Russia and Syria reached an agreement after 18 months of negotiations over the future of Tartous and the Hmeimim air base. Syria will regain control of the civilian facilities, while the remaining military installations are expected to become joint training centers. Moscow therefore retains a reduced presence, but it no longer possesses the same unrestricted position it enjoyed under Assad. This is not a complete Russian withdrawal. It is the conversion of direct military control into a negotiated relationship with a government that is seeking investment from Turkey, the Gulf states, Europe, and the United States.
Tartous was never valuable merely because Russian ships could dock there. Its true strategic importance came from geography. It gave Russia a Mediterranean repair and replenishment point, supported military operations in Syria, and served as a staging route into Africa. Great powers have always fought to control ports because ports connect military force with economic power. Athens built its empire through maritime tribute, Venice became wealthy through Mediterranean trade, and Britain’s global influence rested upon ports and commercial routes long before economists began measuring power through GDP. Control the port and you influence the movement of food, energy, armies, and capital.
(more) https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/world-trade/syria-is-converting-a-russian-military-pier-into-a-trade-route/