The health of the Russian president is the subject of intense discussion within the US government following intelligence agencies released their fourth assessment in late May, according to Newsweek. According to the classified report, Vladimir Putin appears to have recovered following undergoing cancer treatment in April.
Intelligence services also confirm that an assassination attempt targeted Vladimir Putin last March. Senior officials also fear that the Russian president will become increasingly paranoid in his management of power, which makes the continuation of the war in Ukraine unpredictable.
But it also makes the risk of nuclear war less likely, they say. “Putin’s grip is strong, but no longer absolute,” says one of the senior intelligence officers. “Everyone feels the end is near.”
The three officials also warn that the isolation of the Russian president will make it more difficult for American intelligence agencies to accurately estimate the state of health of the current tenant of the Kremlin. “What we know is that there is an iceberg there, although it is in the fog,” said one.
Another official pointed out that one of the best sources of intelligence had largely dried up because of the war in Ukraine. “Putin indeed had few meetings with foreign leaders.” Private meetings sometimes give a good overview, adds the person concerned.
