CIA Director William Burns reportedly made secret Kyiv trip to update Ukraine on Russia's war plans

CIA Director William Burns
(Image credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images)

CIA Director William Burns made a secret visit to Kyiv last week to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his senior intelligence officials on U.S. assessments of Russia's war plans in the coming weeks and months, The Washington Post reported Thursday, citing U.S. officials.

The war in Ukraine is currently centered around Russia's bloody campaign to capture Bakhmut, Ukraine's drive to take back Svatove and Kreminna further north, and Russia's missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. But Ukraine and Russia are both believed to be planning significant offensives in the spring.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.