The ongoing proxy war between the West and Russia in Ukraine has intensified, as Ukraine allegedly launched a foiled drone attack on the Kremlin, which many believe targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Former CIA intelligence officer Larry Johnson commented on the situation, stating that Washington’s Ukraine policy is “in freefall,” according to a report from Russian media.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the United States of being behind the attack, stating, “Decisions on such attacks are made not in Kiev, but in Washington.”
Peskov claimed that Russia is well aware of Washington’s involvement.
Ukrainian authorities denied involvement in the attack.
Johnson described the attempted attack as highly “symbolic” but “tactically insignificant,” the report notes.
“[It] didn’t cause significant damage. The psychological impact, though, there are people that disagree on this, my view is that this is going to galvanize Russia, not create fear or discontent or division. There are others who believe that by doing this, it is going to portray Russia as weak and create internal problems. I simply note that the reactions of former [Russian] President [Dmitry] Medvedev, as well as members of the Duma – they are livid, they are outraged, and calling for escalatory retaliation against Ukraine. So I think in many respects this backfired,” Johnson said.
The former CIA intelligence officer suggested that Kiev may have targeted the Kremlin to provoke a major escalation, hoping that the U.S. would become more directly involved in the conflict.
“Ukraine at this point is in a very desperate situation, and they’re looking for any way out. And I think they perceive as one of the only ways out is to get the United States more deeply involved in this conflict,” he explained.
However, Johnson also acknowledged that Washington may be attempting to discourage further escalation, as they recognize that the situation has spiraled out of control.
“The United States is in no position militarily to confront Russia and survive that confrontation,” he said, nevertheless warning that President Joe Biden’s foreign policy team has been “relentless in their desire to confront Russia,” risking an intensification of the conflict.
Johnson also criticized U.S. policy in Ukraine, stating, “They’re trying to put a band aid on a sucking chest wound, the policy basically, the U.S. policy in Ukraine and foreign policy across the board, is in collapse. It’s in freefall. The United States is not accomplishing its goals.”
