🇺🇸🇷🇺⚡️ — Trump Personally Sent the CIA Director to Moscow to Discuss Negotiations on Ukraine

— WSJ

John Ratcliffe discussed the possibility of resuming negotiations on Ukraine in Moscow. Trump decided to involve a new mediator after previous rounds, involving his trusted representatives, failed to stop the fighting.

The visit was so secretive that even some high-ranking White House officials and military personnel were unaware of it in advance. Sources claim that Trump personally directed the CIA director to Moscow, without revealing the content of his message to some of his closest advisors.

Ratcliffe's selection is explained by his previous experience in dealing with the Kremlin, the CIA's communication channels with Russian intelligence agencies, and his closeness to the U.S. President.

According to the WSJ, the CIA director also urged Moscow to reduce its economic and defense ties with Iran.

U.S. and European officials also claim that one of the topics of the visit was Washington's concerns about possible Russian actions against NATO. At the same time, Trump himself, after Ratcliffe's visit, repeatedly stated that he did not believe a Russian attack on Europe was likely.@IntelSlava

🇺🇸🇷🇺⚡️ — The United States may pass a bill tightening sanctions against Russia as early as September

— Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.

The document, which Blumenthal co-authored with the late Republican Graham, is intended to cut off Russia's revenue from oil and gas exports, which "fund its war machine."

At the same time, Republican Senator Lankford stated that he had not given Zelensky any guarantees of the bill's swift passage.

@IntelSlava

🇪🇺⚡️ — The European Commission is set to unveil an EU enlargement reform in September that could remove member states’ veto power over the accession of new countries, Bloomberg reports.

@IntelSlava

🇷🇺⚡️ — Russia’s Ropucha-class (Project 775/II) large landing ship Alexander Shabalin (hull number 110) has received additional anti-drone protection. Along with an anti-drone net, the ship has been fitted with thin anti-drone grilles covering its AK-725 artillery mounts, parts of the superstructure, and funnels.

@IntelSlava

🇭🇺⚡️ — János Bóka, the leader of the opposition Fidesz faction in the Hungarian parliament, said in the Brussels Playbook Week Ender podcast that he believes some of the criticism regarding Hungary's democratic backsliding under Orbán had some merit, and the Fidesz party is ready to work with the new government on these issues.

The European Commission will soon unlock another €10 billion in funds for Hungary that were frozen under the Orbán government, arguing that Péter Magyar's government is introducing anti-corruption measures. Earlier, for four consecutive years, Transparency International had labeled Hungary the most corrupt country in the EU.

The new Fidesz chairman, Bóka, supports concessions to the European Commission in order to unlock EU subsidies, which marks a change from the Fidesz-era stance.

Bóka was elected to lead Fidesz on July 21, having previously served as EU affairs minister in the Orbán government. He symbolizes a new era for the party, which is dropping in polls and scrambling to regroup after the election defeat, which saw its top representatives walk out.

Former Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó now works for Chinese EV giant BYD, while former Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár announced on August 20 that he would quit politics altogether. Both were considered potential Orbán successors.
Orbán himself refused to take his seat in the new parliament.

Source

@IntelSlava

🇮🇱⚡️ — The son of Israel's Prime Minister, Yair Netanyahu, sent a letter to Police Commissioner Dani Levi, in which he demands the opening of a criminal investigation against Haaretz newspaper journalist Uri Mashgab.

According to Netanyahu, Mashgab's publications about his whereabouts and security measures allowed the Iranians to learn where he lives in Miami, and they tried to kill him.

@IntelSlava

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — The war with Iran, now in its seventh month, has led US allies to question the American administration’s ability to effectively deter its adversaries and project power globally, Politico reported on Friday.

Besides, the newspaper argued, Washington’s inability to defeat Tehran, dwindling weapons stockpiles and distancing from allies have led US military officials to question whether the United States maintains its clout. According to Politico, America has notably reduced its military presence in the Pacific Ocean and in Europe.

@IntelSlava

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — The United States believes it has turned the tide in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported.

According to the news website, US officials “say they’ve turned the tide in the strait and believe it could be a watershed moment in the war that brings not only gradual relief to the world economy, but also a better deal with Iran.”

@IntelSlava

🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡️ — Combat operations by drone operators of the 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division destroying Ukrainian equipment and neutralizing UAVs in the sky in the Krasny Liman direction.

@IntelSlava

🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡️ — A vessel in violation of Iranian regulations was struck by an Iranian anti-ship missile in the Strait of Hormuz.

@IntelSlava

🇺🇦🇷🇺⚡️ — In Bukovina (Ukraine) forensic doctors were dismembering bodies in large quantities to sell them.

In Chernivtsi, a macabre scheme was uncovered: the management of the regional morgue was dismembering bodies on an industrial scale, extracting bones, skin, and corneas to sell to manufacturers of bioimplants, under the pretext of a "scientific collaboration."

The families of the deceased were either persuaded to give their consent in exchange for a free embalming service, or the bodies were directly mutilated against their will. The extracted organs and tissues were carefully packaged in containers and sent to buyers using regular passenger trains.

@IntelSlava