United States CIA Director Woilliam Burns warned his Russian counterpart, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin, about Moscow's potential use of nuclear force in its war on Ukraine.
The two officials met in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday as part of an ongoing effort by the American government to communicate with Russia regarding how to manage risk. They also plan to discuss the cases of "unjustly detained US citizens," said a National Security Council spokesperson.
US-Russia Relations
The official added that the American government has been very open about the fact that they have available channels to communicate with Russia on managing risk, including nuclear risk and risks to strategic stability.
Previous reports noted that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was also in contact with his Russian counterparts, warning them about the consequences that Russia could face if nuclear force is used in Ukraine.
The spokesperson also said that Burns was not conducting negotiations of any kind, such as the settlement of the war in Ukraine. Instead, the CIA director is conveying a message about the consequences of the use of nuclear force and the risks of escalation to strategic stability, as per CNN.
They added that the United States briefed Ukraine on the meeting prior to Burns' trip to Ankara on Monday. On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the meeting between the officials took place, saying that it was at the initiative of the American side.
The Biden administration dispatched Burns several times in the last year for discussions with Russian authorities. They used the diplomat and former US ambassador to Russia as an intermediary amid declining relations between the two countries.
According to Yahoo News, prior to Burns' meeting in Ankara with his Russian counterpart, he also planned to raise the cases of Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan. The two individuals have been detained in Russia for an extended period. The Biden administration has been mounting an effort for their release in a prisoner exchange.
Consequences of Using Nuclear Force
The situation also comes after United States President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. The two world leaders discussed what could be done to address their two nations' declining bilateral relationship. At that meeting, the Democratic leader also reaffirmed his shared belief with Xi regarding the use of nuclear weapons being unacceptable.
On the other hand, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also confirmed that his country hosted the meeting between the two officials on Monday. In a statement, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said that the meeting was "related to threats against international security, starting with the use of nuclear weapons."
Burns has played a crucial role in carrying out clandestine contacts and back-channel communications. While the exact details of the discussions in Ankara were not revealed, it comes at an important time in the conflict. It follows the fall of Kherson and the question of how Russia will respond to its major setback, BBC reported.
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