The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim Former spy chief on Mandelson, Ukraine, China and Trump
Feb 10, 2026
Sir Richard Moore, former head of MI6 and veteran diplomat. He reflects on life inside intelligence and the limits of vetting. He discusses MI6’s role in supporting Ukraine, risks around Iran, and how to engage and counter a rising China while sustaining Western alliances.
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Keep Pressuring Russia, Support Ukraine
- Moore urged sustained support for Ukraine for moral and Euro-Atlantic security reasons and warned against impatience.
- He recommended giving Ukraine more air defence, long-range weapons, and economic pressure on Russia.
Putin Comfortable Because Pressure Is Limited
- Despite battlefield losses and economic strain, Putin remains 'more comfortable than he should be' due to insufficient external pressure.
- Moore argued intensifying sanctions and permissions would force Russia toward negotiation.
Ukraine Is A Test China Is Watching
- China is watching Ukraine's resistance closely and frames Western tensions as evidence of decline.
- Moore warned failure to deter Putin would weaken deterrence elsewhere, including around Taiwan.