In his speech in Prague, Moore, the head of MI6, compared the invasion of Ukraine to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, when the Kremlin sent tanks to crush democratic reforms.
“There were a lot of Russians in 1968 who saw the moral travesty of what was being done here in Prague,” Moore said. in luck with us as partners for freedom”.
He said his service would welcome Russians who are horrified by events in Ukraine.
“I invite you to do what others have already done in the last 18 months and join us,” he said, vowing that their secrets will be safe and that “together we will work to end the bloodshed.”
It was Moore’s second public speech since taking over as head of MI6 three years ago.
The open invitation to disgruntled Russians follows a similar appeal this year from the CIA, which posted a video on social media.
Moore said he stood by his comments a year ago that Russia’s military effort in Ukraine was “running out of steam” and that there is now “little prospect of Russian forces regaining momentum.”
Both Moore and Cleverly said Ukraine was making steady progress in its counteroffensive against Russian forces and it was vital that NATO allies continue to provide military assistance.
“We continue to give them the tools to get the job done and make sure they can take back their country,” Cleverly said in his interview with NBC News.
abigail williams and Owen Hayes contributed.
