Putin cautioned by the US over Russian air sabotage plots

American intelligence discovered that the Russians planned to send explosives on cargo planes. In response, senior White House officials activated several communication channels to warn Vladimir Putin about such actions. The New York Times reports that this had the intended effect: The wave of fires in Europe ceased. "It took many pathways for the message to reach Putin's ears and be understood," the newspaper notes.

Last summer, suspicious packages ignited spontaneously at airports in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland. Suspicions fell on Russia, and American intelligence discovered that Moscow intended to move operations to the American coast. Senior White House officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and CIA Director William Burns, sent warnings to Putin's associates.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas introduced new restrictions on inspecting cargo sent to the United States. In October, he urged airline directors to expedite actions to prevent disaster. Some safety measures have been disclosed, while others remain classified.

White House officials wondered if Putin was aware of the sabotage plans. Efforts to warn him were significant. The "New York Times" emphasizes that the warning reached Putin, achieving the intended effect. However, it is unclear whether Putin ordered a halt to the actions and for how long.

The essence of the warning was that if sabotage leads to mass casualties in the air or on the ground, the United States will hold Russia accountable for 'allowing terrorism,' the American newspaper points out.

The incident showed that Biden and Putin maintain indirect communication channels despite the lack of direct talks since 2022. The "New York Times" predicts that the freeze on talks will soon end. President-elect Donald Trump stated that Putin "wants to meet," although the Kremlin denies formal talks.