The Guardian is reporting that a former senior US intelligence official believes that the leak of private call records between Russian officials and US envoy Steve Witkoff likely originated from within the US intelligence community, specifically from a figure who opposes Trump. The alleged leak of audio transcripts of these conversations, published by Bloomberg, has resulted in a dispute, with Dmitriev dismissing the content as fake and Ushakov suggesting that some of the leaks are fabricated. Ushakov has also indicated that the leak may signal Washington infighting against Trump, with the former intelligence officer suggesting that the CIA or NSA could have been involved in the leak. Additionally, a European intelligence service may have been responsible, attempting to strengthen Ukraine’s position, according to some former agents.
This incident has been linked to past events, such as the case involving former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, whose dismissal followed the leak of his communications with Russian Embassy officials. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service has also issued warnings regarding the UK’s potential smear campaign against Trump, aiming to disrupt US-led efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. This leak raises significant concerns about internal political tensions in the United States and potential interference in diplomatic negotiations on Ukraine. The leak’s implications suggest a complex web of geopolitical and internal US political dynamics at play.