Senior spies discuss Ukraine offensive and global tensions.

For the first time in the history of their organizations, the heads of the C.I.A. and the British intelligence service MI6 made a joint public appearance. In London, William J. Burns and Richard Moore commented on current security policy issues and Ukraine's surprising offensive in the Kursk region. William J. Burns, Director of the C.I.A., emphasized that the offensive in Kursk was a significant tactical achievement and described it as an attempt to "change the game." He stressed that this advance had shaken the narrative propagated by Vladimir Putin, which claimed that Russia would wear down Ukraine and fracture the Western alliance. Richard Moore, head of the British intelligence service, agreed and called the Ukrainians' approach "typically bold and audacious." Both intelligence chiefs concurred that the offensive had changed the geopolitical discourse in a risk-laden environment, although it likely would not determine the course of the war. They also warned of new dangers, such as the transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia, which Burns classified as a "major escalation." Burns and Moore took the opportunity to emphasize the close cooperation of their services. They referred to the release of intelligence information about Russia's invasion plans before the onset of the Ukraine war as an example of how the agencies worked together, thus slightly compromising confidentiality. Both men have experience in both diplomatic and intelligence roles in their careers. Burns led the C.I.A. after a long diplomatic career, while Moore served as an intelligence officer before becoming the British Ambassador to Turkey. Burns was also deeply involved in negotiations for the release of Hamas hostages and expressed cautious optimism that a detailed proposal could be presented in the coming days, although he noted that the final phase of negotiations is always the most challenging. While the British Labour government has recently executed an articulate separation from American positions on the Gaza crisis and limited arms exports to Israel, Moore emphasized the UK's willingness to support Ukraine with weapons capable of targeting military objectives within Russia. President Biden expressed concern that such attacks could escalate the conflict. Burns and Moore adeptly navigated more contentious topics and focused on common adversaries like Putin. Both warned of the activities of Russian intelligence agents, not only in Europe but also in Mexico, where they are reportedly promoting illegal migration into the United States to create destabilization.