John Ratcliffe’s rise from mayor of a small Texas town to heading the nation’s main intelligence agency has made him one of the key shapers of U.S. foreign policy in Donald Trump’s second presidency. 

Born in Chicago on Oct. 20, 1965, Ratcliffe graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1987 and got his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in 1989. He worked as a lawyer and then served as the mayor of Heath, Texas from 2004 to 2012. Concurrently, from 2004 to 2008, Ratcliff served as Chief of Anti-Terrorism and National Security for the Eastern District of Texas in the George W. Bush administration, and was named the U.S. Attorney for the district from 2007 to 2008. In 2015, he entered Congress as the U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District of Texas. As a congressman, he served on the House Intelligence, Homeland Security and Judiciary committees. He resigned on May 22, 2020, to become the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the second half of Donald Trump’s first presidential term. During his May 2020 confirmation hearing as DNI, then-Congressman Ratcliffe assured senators he would remain “entirely apolitical” as the Director of National Intelligence, according to the New York Times. But within months, Ratcliffe sent over 1,000 pages of materials to the Justice Department to aid its investigation into the Trump-Russia probe’s origins. At the same time, Ratcliffe did hold the view that Russia and Iran had undertaken actions to influence U.S. public opinion ahead of the 2020 election. As DNI in late 2021, he also believed that a Russian invasion of Ukraine was likely, emphasizing Putin’s belief that Ukraine’s post-Soviet independence was an “invalid divorce” and that reclaiming it was essential to Russia’s identity and control of regional energy, according to Fox News. Following the change of guard in the White House in 2021, Ratcliffe was among the founding members of the America First Policy Institute, where he co-chaired the national security policy area with current U.S. special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. 

With Trump’s return to the White House in 2025, Ratcliff returned to a top post in the intelligence community when the Senate approved his nomination as CIA director. During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe expressed concern over North Korea’s growing alignment with Russia and warned that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continued to devastate the region while heightening the risk of the U.S. being pulled into a conflict with a nuclear-armed adversary. He has called the nuclear threat “the most serious national security risk we face,” and argued that escalation scenarios—whether through accident, miscalculation or intentional use—must be central to U.S. intelligence assessments. While deferring to the president on arms support for Ukraine, Ratcliffe stressed his role in ensuring the White House is informed by real-time intelligence. In March 2025, he noted that if negotiations succeed, neither side would achieve its maximalist goals, according to RBC-Ukraine. Ratcliffe has retained his post even as reports surfaced of his entanglement in the so-called Signalgate scandal with other high-ranking members of the Trump administration. 

This compilation of Ratcliffe’s views is part of Russia Matters’ “Competing Views” rubric, where we share prominent American figures’ takes on issues pertaining to Russia, U.S.-Russian relations and broader U.S. policies affecting Russia. All sections may be updated with new or past statements. The quotes below are divided into categories similar to those in Russia Matters’ news and analysis digests, reflecting the most pertinent topic areas for U.S.-Russian relations broadly, and for the drivers of the two countries’ policies toward one another. They are arranged in chronological order.

I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda

Nuclear security and safety:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs:

• Pyongyang has advanced its military and strategic nuclear weapons programs, bankrolling these efforts in part through its support for ransomware attacks. I am particularly alarmed by North Korea’s growing ties to Russia. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)

Iran and its nuclear program:

• The Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies continue to export mayhem across the Middle East, and Iran is closer to nuclear breakout than ever before. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)
• While Israel has taken steps to expose, disrupt, and degrade the dangers that only grew since I left office, it is concerning that Iran continues to take steps toward potentially developing a nuclear weapon and that the regime’s proxy groups continue to operate freely. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)

Humanitarian impact of the Ukraine conflict:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

Military and security aspects of the Ukraine conflict and their impacts:

• I think he [Putin] is planning and preparing [to invade Ukraine]… This threat is very real. That is not a matter of opinion, it is based on specific intelligence you talked about and based on history. (Fox News, 12.05.21)
• There was very specific intelligence about 175,000 troops, an invasion in the early part of 2022 into Crimea. So that intelligence was very specific, that was obtained or intercepted and it is consistent with history… The last time Putin started to amass troops at that level; he did take Crimea. So, so the threat is very real. (Fox News, 12.07.21)
• According to Ratcliffe, he agrees that Russia has an advantage on the battlefield and is making slow progress. "With regard to the Ukrainian resistance, the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian military have been underestimated for a period of several years now. And ultimately, from my reflections in observing, from an intelligence standpoint, I'm convinced that they will fight with their bare hands if they have to, if they don't have terms that are acceptable to an enduring peace," he added. At the same time, Ratcliffe assured that Trump is aware of the danger if Russia gets what it wants. (RBC-Ukraine, 03.25.25)

Military aid to Ukraine:

• Co-sponsored H.R.3047 U.S.—Ukraine Security Cooperation Enhancement Act (2019). (Congress.gov, 05.30.19)
• The last time he [Joe Biden] had the opportunity to protect Ukraine in the Obama administration, they sent blankets, not antitank missiles or anything else that would have helped Ukraine or stopped Putin. (Fox News, 12.05.21)
• When asked “Should the U.S. continue to provide weapons and other lethal and non-lethal support to Ukraine?” I defer to the President on U.S. policy toward Ukraine. As Director of CIA, it will be my responsibility to provide timely insight on the Russia-Ukraine conflict so that the President can make the best decision. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)
• The director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency said Wednesday that the United States has paused intelligence support to Ukraine, on top of halting weapons shipments to the country that's still at war with Russia. Ratcliffe, the CIA chief, said in an interview with Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo that "(U.S. President) Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process, and he said let's pause." "I want to give a chance to think about that and you saw the response that President Zelensky put out," Ratcliffe told Bartiromo on Wednesday. "So I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think will go away.” “And I think we'll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine," Ratcliffe said in an expression of optimism, adding that Washington and Kiev would work together to "put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward." (Xinhua, 03.05.25)

Punitive measures related to Russia’s war against Ukraine and their impact globally:

• Talking about the sanctions ahead of time and even things like putting things like Crimea back on the table would have been the smart and aggressive thing to do that would have held Putin at bay. (Fox News, 12.24.21)

Ukraine-related negotiations: 

• Ratcliffe said that if "negotiations are successful," neither side will achieve its maximalist goals. (RBC-Ukraine, 03.25.25)

Great Power rivalry/new Cold War/NATO-Russia relations:

• Co-sponsored H.Res.116—Calling for a prompt multinational freedom of navigation operation in the Black Sea and urging the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which urges the president to work with allies to lead a multinational freedom of navigation operation in the Black Sea to push back against excessive Russian claims of sovereignty. It also calls for NATO to enhance allied maritime presence and capabilities in the Black Sea and for European governments to cancel the Nord Stream 2 pipeline due to its threat to European energy security. The resolution also urges the president to provide additional security assistance to Ukraine and states that the president is required by statute to impose mandatory sanctions on Russia. (Congress.gov, 02.11.19)
• For the talented intelligence analysts and operators who came up during the Cold War, the Soviet Union and Russia have always been the focus. For others who rose through the ranks at the turn of this century, counterterrorism has been top of mind. But today we must look with clear eyes at the facts in front of us, which make plain that China should be America’s primary national security focus going forward. (Wall Street Journal, 12.03.20)
• [World War II] took an attack on America and the use of a nuclear weapon to come to a conclusion. We don’t want to revisit that. That is where when we talk about things happening with Russia and China and Iran, strong leadership is needed. (Fox News, 12.05.21)
• If the United States is preoccupied with an issue… in Europe, with Ukraine and the Russian invasion there, what better time for the Chinese to move? This is something the intelligence community and folks in the Department of Defense that worked for me previously say, you know, is a real concern now. (Fox News, 12.07.21)
• What Vladimir Putin has successfully done is given the United States this Hobbesian choice… I will either invade Ukraine or you give me assurances Ukraine will not become a NATO member… That is a win/win proposal for Putin and lose-lose proposal for Western democracies. (Fox News, 12.24.21)
• In nearly every way possible, President Biden has weakened the United States and our allies and empowered Putin. As a result, Russia is on the march, even as the Ukrainian people have inspired the world with their courage and resilience. And in the wings, America’s greatest threat—Xi Jinping’s China—waits, and watches. (The Federalist, co-written with Cliff Sims, 03.03.22)

China-Russia: Allied or aligned?

• Director of National Intelligence Ratcliffe said Beijing was a bigger threat than Russia. (CNN Wire, 10.23.20)
• There are any number of things that the Biden administration could say [to China], look, if you take the step of providing lethal aid to Putin and Russia in its aggression against Ukraine, then that`s going to force us to, and then any number of things, with respect to Taiwan, accelerate the delivery of $19 billion in outstanding military contracts to make sure that Taiwan is prepared to meet that aggression that comes from you… they may view what`s happened in Ukraine as, look, a country the size of Russia with an economy that`s smaller than the state of Texas is basically holding this coalition of the world at bay, and may ultimately prevail if that falls apart. Look at us. We`re China. We are the largest economy or maybe the second largest economy, depending on how you want to define it… I don`t think you can—that you can discount the fact that one of the lessons that they may learn from what`s happening in Ukraine is what not to do and to do it better than Vladimir Putin has. (Fox News, 03.02.23)
• Ratcliffe said he views China as America's greatest geopolitical rival, with Russia, Iran, North Korea and drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations also posing challenges to national security. (AP, 01.15.25)

Missile defense:

• Voted against an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2020 “Prohibition on Use of Funds for Shorter-or Intermediate-Range Ground Launched Ballistic or Cruise Missile Systems” following the U.S. exit from the INF Treaty. (Congress.gov, 07.11.19)

Nuclear arms:

• Voted against an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 that would extend the New START Treaty from February 2021 to February 2026. (Congress.gov, 07.11.19)
• The Russia-Ukraine War wages on, spreading devastation and increasing the risk of the United States being pulled into conflict with a nuclear power. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)

Counterterrorism:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

Conflict in Syria:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

Cyber security/AI: 

• Ratcliffe issued the following statements on the passage of the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement (NCPA) Act of 2015 (H.R. 1731) meant to better protect American companies from cyber espionage campaigns from nation states like China, Russia, and Iran… "I came to Washington to solve problems and make our country a safer place for all Americans. The National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act is a much needed bill that accomplishes both. By passing this legislation, we are proactively protecting the national security of our country and the personal privacy of our citizens - both of which, under the status quo, remain vulnerable to malicious attacks from cyber adversaries. (CONGDP, 04.23.15)
• To give him [Putin] a list of entities or sectors that essentially amounts to a target list. You give your adversary a list saying these are things that we absolutely can’t afford to have you to go after. The strategy behind that really seems ill conceived. So, this administration is really not setting a clear picture for what the Russians will and will not be held accountable for. (Fox News, 06.17.21)
• If you’re going to give Vladimir Putin a list, the list you should have given him is our list, our target list. Delivered with the message “Look, if we get hit with another cyber attack, we’re going to come after one of these entities or one of these sectors.” Or, a better strategy would have been to take that action covertly before the [Biden-Putin] summit took place. (Fox News, 06.17.21)
• [When asked if he’s saying the U.S. should have carried out “a very targeted attack against a Russian entity” prior to the Biden-Putin summit:] Absolutely yes. (Fox News, 06.17.21)
• We should be responding [to Russian cyber attacks] and using our offensive capabilities. (Fox News, 06.17.21)
• Ratcliffe called it "bizarre" and "absurd" that President Joe Biden gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a list of 16 critical infrastructure items in the U.S. that must be off limits to cyber extortionists. (Docs.house.gov, 06.21.21)

Energy exports from CIS:

• Co-sponsored H.R.2023 - Protect European Energy Security Act, which requires the submission of certain reports to Congress related to Russia's construction of two natural gas pipelines, the Nord Stream 2 and Turk Stream. (Congress.gov, 04.30.19)
• Just from an economic standpoint, folks know that Vladimir Putin was 3-0 when it comes to pipelines. Joe Biden shut down the Keystone pipeline. That was a win for Putin. Criminal networks in Russia shut down one of our major pipelines, the Colonial Pipeline. That was a win for Putin. (Docs.house.gov, 06.21.21)
• The leverage that Joe Biden should be asserting on world leaders should have been on Angela Merkel, not on Vladimir Putin today… Having the Germans not certify and put into place Nord Stream 2 as a functioning gas pipeline is something that even Vladimir Putin wouldn’t be able to overcome and would stand down. (Fox News, 12.07.21)
• We could have communicated Nord Stream [2] will not move forward unless and until… Putin and Russia stand down in Ukraine. It’s pretty simple. (Fox News, 12.07.21)
• By slashing onerous regulations, Trump sparked an American energy boom that ensured we would never be reliant on any other nation to meet our energy needs. Geopolitically, America’s increased export capacity reduced Putin’s leverage over our European allies, who depend on Russia for 40 percent of their gas and more than a quarter of their oil. (The Federalist, co-written with Cliff Sims, 03.03.22)

Climate change:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

U.S.-Russian economic ties:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

Elections interference:

• Ratcliff co-submitted a letter to House leadership today calling for an inquiry into the improper public communication of information by members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) regarding the investigation into the alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The letter said Significant evidence that serious leaks have occurred in relation to the HPSCI investigation into alleged Russian meddling of the 2016 election must be immediately addressed." (PARALL, 12.18.17)
• Donald Trump’s new nominee for the top US intelligence role has repeatedly called into question the motives and actions of a former British spy who helped trigger the Russian links investigation. Ratcliffe, the Texan congressman proposed for US director of national intelligence, criticized former MI6 agent Christopher Steele’s collection of memos about the Trump campaign's ties to the Kremlin. Mr. Ratcliffe has called the memos a “false dossier”, played up the fact that the research was in part funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign and questioned how the information was handled by US officials. ''I want to find out if Russia interfered with our election by providing false information through sources to Christopher Steele about a Trump conspiracy that you determined didn't exist,” Mr. Ratcliffe said.(The Telegraph, 06.29.19)
• We assess that China and Russia are increasing their ability to analyze and manipulate large quantities of personal information in ways that will allow them to more effectively target and influence, or coerce, individuals and groups in the United States and allied countries. (2020 National Intelligence Council Report: Cyber Operations Enabling Expansive Digital Authoritarianism, 04.07.20)
• We judge that China and Russia are using digital authoritarian capabilities to aid their allies and are allowing their firms to sell equipment and knowhow on the open market. Their efforts and sales go beyond what Western firms offer-such as AI-driven facial recognition and the ubiquitous surveillance environments marketed as "safe cities" that enable states' monitoring and suppression of their populace. (2020 National Intelligence Council Report: Cyber Operations Enabling Expansive Digital Authoritarianism, 04.07.20)
• We would like to alert the public that we have identified that two foreign actors—Iran and Russia—have taken specific actions to influence public opinion relating to our elections. First, we have confirmed that some voter registration information has been obtained by Iran, and separately, by Russia. This data can be used by foreign actors to attempt to communicate false information to registered voters that they hope will cause confusion, sow chaos, and undermine your confidence in American democracy. (Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 10.21.20)
• When asked: “Do you believe Russia, China, or other foreign adversaries interfered, or attempted to interfere, in the 2016, 2020, or 2024 U.S. presidential elections in any way?” I believe that foreign adversaries attempted to influence our U.S. elections, but the IC saw no indications that any foreign actor successfully interfered in the conduct of U.S. elections in 2016, 2020, and 2024… I believe these actors’ aspirations to interfere in the U.S. political system will remain a persistent threat, and I agree with the IC’s declassified assessment that China, Iran, and Russia are better prepared to exploit opportunities to exert influence in the U.S. general election after the polls closed on Election Day due to lessons drawn from the 2020 and now the 2024 election cycle. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)
• I believe Russia has used foreign malign influence techniques, including covert social media campaigns, in the last three U.S. presidential elections to try to shape public perceptions of the candidates, amplify societal divisions, and undermine the democratic process. Russia’s goal remains to create and exacerbate divisions among Americans. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)
• I used my authority to declassify more intelligence about what the IC knew about Russia’s efforts related to the 2016 election, which resulted in more information making it to the American public. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)
• I agree with the Committee and the ICA’s judgment that Russia's goal was to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions and sow division among the American people. I also agree there is no evidence that any votes were changed or that any voting machines were manipulated. In reviewing the assessments, I would note that Russian social media campaigns included efforts to both support and criticize candidate Trump as well as candidate Clinton, further suggesting an overarching goal of promoting discord. Moscow has long used active measures— including disinformation, propaganda, cyberattacks, and covert influence operations—not only against the United States but also against other Western democracies. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)
• "We see our adversaries seeking to compromise the private communications of US political campaigns, candidates and other political targets," a July statement from Ratcliffe’s office stated. "In addition, foreign nations continue to use influence measures in social and traditional media in an effort to sway US voters’ preferences and perspectives, to shift US policies, to increase discord and to undermine confidence in our democratic process… Foreign efforts to influence or interfere with our elections are a direct threat to the fabric of our democracy." (Indian Express Online, 10.31.20)
• In late July 2016, U.S. intelligence agencies obtained insight into Russian intelligence analysis alleging that U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had approved a campaign plan to stir up a scandal against U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump by tying him to Putin and the Russians' hacking of the Democratic National Committee. The IC does not know the accuracy of this allegation or the extent to which the Russian intelligence analysis may reflect exaggeration or fabrication.... On 07 September 2016, U.S. intelligence officials forwarded an investigative referral to FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Peter Strzok regarding ‘U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's approval of a plan concerning U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private mail server. (Ratcliffe's letter to Senator Graham, Senate.gov, 09.29.20)

U.S.-Russian relations in general:

• Ratcliff issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration's action in conjunction with our NATO allies to expel Russian diplomats from the United States and close the Russian consulate in Seattle: "I commend the Trump administration and our NATO allies for taking decisive action against Russia's destabilizing activities. We will not tolerate the threats posed by Russia's ongoing aggression toward our homeland and throughout the world. This pattern of recklessness must end." (CONGDP, 03.26.18)
• You want to know the abilities or capabilities or limitations of foreign leaders. And, in this case, Vladimir Putin, as you said, a former KGB spy, a seasoned intelligence officer, had four hours directly with Joe Biden ... someone who couldn't remember the name of his own secretary of defense, couldn't remember the name of the Pentagon, and someone who has uttered more incomprehensible words and sentences than any American would care to admit. (Docs.house.gov, 06.21.21)
• Trump was much tougher on Russia than the media have led people to believe, while Biden has been far softer. Trump deployed such aggressive sanctions against Russia that President Obama’s Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called them the toughest in history, and he withdrew from one-sided treaties that hamstrung the U.S. while Russia violated the terms. (The Federalist, co-written with Cliff Sims, 03.03.22)
• When asked: What do you believe U.S. policy priorities should be toward Russia?” I defer to the President on U.S. policy toward Russia. During my time as DNI, I flagged the increasing threat of great power competition with Russia and China, and that threat has only grown in the intervening years. Russia is increasingly cooperating with other adversaries to continue the war in Ukraine and amplify threats to American interests, for example signing a defensive treaty with North Korea. As Director of CIA, I will make sure that we are using our authorities to the fullest extent to degrade these efforts. At the same time, I believe we cannot let our adversarial relationships boil over into unintended wars. As Director of CIA, I will alert the President when the Russians are seeking to harm U.S. interests, but I will also advise the President when there are opportunities to work toward mutually beneficial outcomes with Russia. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)
• Ratcliffe expressed frustration at the leaks from a counterintelligence briefing to Congress a month ago, in which lawmakers were informed that China, Russia and Iran were seeking to interfere in the November 3 election. "Within minutes several members of Congress went to several different media outlets and leaked classified information," Ratcliffe told Fox News. The official noted that the leaks were aimed at "creating a narrative that is simply not true, that Russia is somehow a greater threat to national security than China." "It's an illogical inconsistency," he added, accusing the White House of pushing a false idea that Russian interference in the election to help Trump "was no different from what other countries are doing." (CE Noticias Financieras," 08.31.20)
• “Today, President Donald Trump is bringing home another wrongfully detained American from Russia,” Ratcliffe told the Wall Street Journal. “I’m proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to make this happen, and we’re grateful to the UAE government for facilitating the exchange.” (The New Voice of Ukraine (NV), 04.10.25)

II. Russia’s domestic policies 

Domestic politics, economy and energy:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

Defense and aerospace:

• Russian hypersonic weapons and US election security are among the most challenging issues facing the United States, Congressman Ratcliffe, nominated to be the next Director of National Intelligence, said during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. “Russia: We know that Russia and other foreign state actors continue to seek opportunities to undermine our democracy by interfering in our elections as well as our allies. They have sought to interfere before and will continue to do so,” Ratcliffe said​​​. “We must ensure the Intelligence Community is postured to support a whole of government approach to thwart such efforts in 2020 and beyond.” “This list is by no means exhaustive. We also face real and emerging threats from rising political instability in places like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq; extremist threats from failed states such as Yemen, Somalia, and Libya; challenges in space, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence; increasing counterintelligence risks worldwide; and again, the unknown structural changes and risks likely to emerge around the world from a global pandemic,” Ratcliffe added. (Sputnik, 05.25.20)¹
• Our nation’s economy, our American way of life, and our security all depend on space systems. Many aspects of modern society, including our ability to conduct military operations, rely on our satellites. Additionally, America’s vital interests are increasingly at risk as China and Russia develop and field destructive weapons to threaten U.S. and allied space capabilities. (Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 12.09.20)
• We are in a new space race, one that in many ways is far more dangerous and consequential than the competition of the Cold War. The Russians have ramped up their space warfare capabilities over the past decade as Moscow seeks to regain Soviet-era capabilities that were lost in the aftermath of the Cold War. We can see that threat in examples such as Russia's reported work on a nuclear anti-satellite weapons program. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)
• See section Military aspects of the Ukraine conflict and their impacts above.

Security, law-enforcement and justice:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

III. Russia’s relations with other countries

Russia’s external policies, including relations with “far abroad” countries:

• I believe the illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela has fueled the world’s largest migrant crisis and has provided a beachhead for malign Iranian, Russian, and PRC influence in the Western Hemisphere. (Senate.gov, 01.15.25)

Ukraine:

• Rep. Ratcliffe (R-Texas) issued the following statement today on the release of the declassified, unredacted transcript of President Trump's telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from July 25th, 2019: "The special counsel wrongfully flipped the legal burden of proof to require President Trump to conclusively determine his innocence. Now Democrats have done the same thing to our national security. The transcript conclusively determines, despite Democratic promises to the contrary, that there was no quid pro quo.” (CONGDP, 09.25.19)
• Putin has talked about the fact he viewed Ukraine at the fall of the Soviet Union having separation from Russia as an invalid divorce. And he’s talked about Kyiv being the medieval cradle of Russian greatness. So, he does intend to unify Ukraine eventually into Russia. It is one of two things he has talked about the most, that and… growing Russian economy and you know controlling the flow of… energy into Eastern Europe. (Fox News, 12.05.21)

Russia's other post-Soviet neighbors:

• No significant commentary or analysis in monitored publications.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the individual quoted. Photo by AP Photo/John McDonnell.