The head of Britain's foreign intelligence service MI6, Richard Moore, warned that there was "absolutely no evidence" that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to negotiate a peace agreement in Ukraine, DPA and PA Media reported. quoted by BTA.
Moore, who will step down from his post at the end of September, used his farewell speech to say that Putin "is leading us by the nose" amid faltering efforts to reach a ceasefire.
Russian forces have continued to strike into Ukrainian territory in recent weeks and peace appears no closer despite months of negotiations led by Washington.
Speaking earlier today at the British consulate in Istanbul, Moore, a former British ambassador to Turkey, said there was "absolutely no evidence" that the Russian president wanted to settle the conflict, as he sought to "impose his imperial will by any means at his disposal."
"But he cannot succeed," Moore stressed. "Putin has bitten off more than he can swallow, quite frankly. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he - and many others - underestimated the Ukrainians," the head of Britain's foreign intelligence service added.