US halts sharing of Ukraine peace talk intelligence with Five Eyes allies

The US administration has reportedly stopped sharing classified information about ongoing peace negotiations on Ukraine with its closest allies.

According to a CBS News report citing sources, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard signed a directive prohibiting the transfer of information regarding peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to the Five Eyes alliance countries.

Under the directive dated July 20, all data and analysis on the subject were classified at the “NOFORN” (not releasable to foreign nationals) level.

Information previously made public and military or diplomatic information conveyed for the purpose of defense support to the Ukrainian army were excluded from this ban.

Former officials concerned about the decision

The Five Eyes intelligence alliance, established after the Second World War, includes the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in addition to the US.

Former officials stated that Washington’s decision could harm the alliance, weaken mutual trust, and reduce the willingness of member countries to share critical intelligence in the future.

Steven Cash, a former CIA and Department of Homeland Security employee, stated that the value of the alliance lies in the ability of decision-makers to obtain a clearer picture through shared intelligence.

Cash said, “We five countries are on one side of the same table, and on the other side is a common enemy.”

Intensifying diplomacy in the background

Washington has recently intensified its diplomatic efforts for a political solution to the war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15. On August 18, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House.

Following these meetings, the White House announced that it was preparing for a bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.

However, sources speaking to The Guardian reported that Trump wanted Kyiv and Moscow to arrange the talks on their own initiative and therefore preferred to wait.