Tulsi Gabbard challenges Western narrative on Russia’s aims
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has said that American intelligence assessments do not indicate that Russia has the capability to conquer and occupy Ukraine, nor to launch a broader invasion of Europe.
In a post on X, Gabbard stated that US intelligence agencies assess that Russia lacks the military capacity to achieve such objectives. She argued that claims suggesting otherwise are being used to justify continued military escalation.
“The truth is that US intelligence assesses that Russia does not even have the capability to conquer and occupy Ukraine, let alone invade and occupy Europe,” Gabbard wrote.
She further alleged that some policymakers and sections of the Western media were misrepresenting intelligence findings in ways that could undermine diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. According to Gabbard, these narratives conflict with US President Donald Trump’s stated goal of pursuing a negotiated settlement to the war.
Her comments come amid renewed Western reporting suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s long-term objectives remain unchanged and that Moscow continues to seek control over Ukrainian territory.
Russia has consistently rejected such allegations. Earlier this week, President Putin dismissed claims that Russia intends to attack European Union countries, calling them unfounded and accusing Western leaders of using perceived threats to justify increased defence spending.
Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy of the Russian president, welcomed Gabbard’s remarks, describing them as a challenge to what he characterised as prevailing war-focused narratives. Writing on X, Dmitriev said that voices questioning escalation were important for advancing peace and stability.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the United States has proposed a potential framework for peace talks that would include Ukraine and Russia at the same negotiating table, with US participation. Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy expressed caution, noting that such a format would be meaningful only after further consultations between Ukraine and its partners.
Separately, Russian and US negotiators met in Miami this week. The talks included Dmitriev, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to President Trump.
Dmitriev said the discussions were constructive and indicated that further dialogue between the two sides would continue.
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