In a historic joint op-ed in the Financial Times, CIA Director William Burns and Richard Moore, head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, emphasized the continued importance of supporting Ukraine against Russia. They asserted that maintaining unwavering support for Ukraine is critical, vowing their agencies would deepen cooperation to face shared challenges. They marked 75 years of collaboration and highlighted their unified stance against Russia, particularly in resisting its aggression in Ukraine.

The spy chiefs affirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not succeed in erasing Ukraine’s sovereignty, pledging to keep assisting Ukrainian intelligence. They also condemned Russia’s alleged sabotage and disinformation campaigns in Europe, noting their commitment to countering these efforts. While Russia denies such actions, the intelligence leaders stressed the need to remain vigilant.

Additionally, they described China as the primary geopolitical challenge of the 21st century and said their agencies had adapted accordingly. They also outlined their work to promote de-escalation in the Middle East, focusing on negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza to end civilian casualties and secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7. Burns is leading U.S. negotiations in these efforts.