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In a bold statement Friday, the head of Britain's foreign intelligence service declared that Russia is engaging in a "staggeringly reckless" campaign of sabotage against Ukraine's Western allies. Richard Moore, the MI6 chief, emphasized that his agency is collaborating with international counterparts to prevent these activities from leading to an uncontrollable escalation of the conflict.

Addressing an audience of diplomats and intelligence officials in France, Moore highlighted the collective efforts of MI6 and France’s external intelligence agency, the DGSE, to manage the escalating risks posed by Russia under President Vladimir Putin. He framed this coordination as crucial for informing the decisions of their respective governments in response to what Moore described as Putin’s mix of bluster and aggression.

Moore warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine would have severe security repercussions not only for Europe but also for the United States. This was partly a message directed at U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump, given his expressed skepticism about the ongoing support for Ukraine.

Western security officials have long suspected Russia of using means such as disinformation, sabotage, and arson to destabilize Ukraine's allies. Moore's remarks follow reports of several thwarted attacks allegedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence, including a plot to burn down Ukrainian-owned businesses in London and incendiary devices found on cargo planes in Germany and England.

Joined by Nicolas Lerner at an event commemorating 120 years of the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France, both leaders underscored the importance of their intelligence-sharing alliance. Lerner noted that the expertise Britain developed in the wake of notorious incidents like the 2018 Salisbury Novichok poisoning is invaluable for France's efforts to counter Russian activities.

The collaboration between Britain and France has extended to military support for Ukraine, with both nations allowing the use of their supplied missiles to target locations within Russia. Recently, Ukraine reported the use of American ATACMS missiles against Russian territory, which provoked a severe military response from Russia, including missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and threats of nuclear action.

Moore firmly warned that the cost of not supporting Ukraine would be "infinitely higher" than the sacrifices currently being made. He cautioned that a successful Russian campaign would not only endanger European security but also embolden other adversarial nations like Iran, China, and North Korea.

Despite some concerns about potential shifts in trans-Atlantic relations under Trump's "America first" policy, Moore expressed strong confidence in the resilience of the U.S.-U.K. intelligence alliance. He reflected on his agency's productive collaboration with the previous Trump administration and looked forward to continuing this joint effort to ensure global security.