C.I.A. CHIEF IN ANKARA MEETING WITH RUSSIAN COUNTERPART: U.S.

WASHINGTON: US Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns is in Ankara to speak with his Russian intelligence counterpart to convey a message on consequences of any use of nuclear weapons by Russia, a White House official said on Monday.

“He is not conducting negotiations of any kind. He is not discussing settlement of the war in Ukraine,” said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, adding that Burns will also raise the cases of detained Americans in Russia.

The news was first reported by Russia’s Kommersant newspaper, which said Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service, would attend the talks.

“We have been very open about the fact that we have channels to communicate with Russia on managing risk, especially nuclear risk and risks to strategic stability,” the White House official said, adding that Ukraine was briefed on the trip in advance.