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Daily Telegraph
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Telegraph
‘I know how its all going to end': Ex-CIA chief warns of Vladimir Putin's demise
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Vladimir Putin is terrified, sickly and facing a fate just like his toppled dictator pal Bashar al-Assad, a former CIA chief has warned. Ralph Goff, ex-CIA chief of operations for Europe and Eurasia, said the ageing Russian tyrant is preoccupied with his health. And while he fumbles with trying to keep well, there is likely to be fomenting dissent in his elites, The Sun reports. He said Putin, 72, could fall very quickly if his oligarch pals turn on him – potentially losing power in a sudden uprising like Assad. Get all the latest news happening around the world as it happens — download the app direct to your phone. Vladimir Putin is facing a fate just like his toppled dictator pal Bashar al-Assad, a former CIA chief has warned. Photo: AFP Goff said the Russian president's health and wellbeing is his 'top concern'. 'Putin is a guy who's afraid of Covid, afraid of being sick,' the ex-spook – a 35-year CIA veteran said. 'His personal health and wellbeing are his top concern. 'Putin may have the same fate as Bashar al-Assad who fell suddenly without warning. 'I think this is one of the more likely outcomes for Putin – a threat that he doesn't even see coming, comes out of nowhere, and he's gone.' Like other intelligence chiefs, Goff – who served in Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia – believes Putin 'sees a threat in the elite'. Goff said the Russian president's health and wellbeing is his 'top concern'. Photo: AFP 'Putin is a guy who's afraid of Covid, afraid of being sick.' Photo: AFP 'It's similar to the Italian mafia organised crime in the United States – where if the head was judged bad for business, then the they would get together and take him out. 'So Putin's got to watch out. He's got to watch the economy. 'He's got to watch the loyalty of the oligarchs.' Despite leading a war effort that has been devastating to Russia, Vlad is 'still popular', Goff said. However, 'It's a huge scale of devastation and loss. And that can undermine just about anybody,' he added. Ralph Goff served in the CIA for 35 years. Photo: Supplied Despite leading a war effort that has been devastating to Russia, Vlad is 'still popular'. Photo: AFP As the war rumbles on, Goff revealed the recipe for Ukraine success – more weapons from Europe and targeting Russian assets. 'When the Ukrainians are successfully armed and prepared, they can hold out – and there's an increased chance of forcing some sort of settlement. 'If not, Putin can continue this war for as long as he likes – to the point where the Ukrainians are forced to kind of seek a very disadvantageous peace, or ceasefire.' Goff warns it would be 'very unstable' with 'no guarantee that some sort of war won't break out in the future'. And outside Russia, Goff believes a regime change in Iran would have a direct impact on Putin's war. 'A change in regime would undermine that support and help isolate Russia just a little bit more,' he said. This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission Originally published as 'I know how its all going to end': Ex-CIA chief warns of Vladimir Putin's demise
The Sun
03-08-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Terrified and sickly Putin's disastrous war has sealed his fate – I know how its all going to end, warns ex-CIA chief
VLADIMIR Putin is terrfied, sickly and facing a fate just like his toppled dictator pal Bashar al-Assad, a former CIA chief has warned. Ralph Goff, ex-CIA chief of operations for Europe and Eurasia, said the aging Russian tyrant is preoccupied with his health. 8 8 8 8 And while he fumbles with trying to keep well, there is likely to be fermenting dissent in his elites. He said Putin, 72, could fall very quickly if his oligarch pals turn on him - potentially losing power in a sudden uprising like Assad. Goff said the Russian president's health and well-being is his "top concern". The ex-spook - a 35-year CIA veteran - told The Sun: "Putin is a guy who's afraid of Covid, afraid of being sick. "His personal health and well-being are his top concern. "Putin may have the same fate as Bashar al-Assad who fell suddenly without warning. "I think this is one of the more likely outcomes for Putin - a threat that he doesn't even see coming, comes out of nowhere, and he's gone." Like other intelligence chiefs, Goff - who served in Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia - believes Putin "sees a threat in the elite". He said: "It's similar to the Italian mafia organised crime in the United States - where if the head was judged bad for business, then the they would get together and take him out. "So Putin's got to watch out. He's got to watch the economy. How country with population the size of Birmingham on Putin's doorstep is bracing for invasion… as war plans revealed "He's got to watch the loyalty of the oligarchs." Despite leading a war effort that has been devastating to Russia, Vlad is "still popular", Goff said. But he added: "It's a huge scale of devastation and loss. And that can undermine just about anybody." 8 What we know about Putin's health By Henry Holloway, Deputy Foreign Editor VLADIMIR Putin has long been rumoured to be suffering from poor health. Russia has always insisted that the judo-loving, horse-riding and often shirtless tyrant is in perfect health. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky even stated as fact earlier this year that Putin will "die soon". From trembling "jelly" legs and bloated features to whispered diagnoses of cancer and Parkinson's, speculation has exploded that the ageing despot is battling multiple serious illnesses behind the Kremlin walls. Bombshell spy leaks have suggested Putin is fighting pancreatic, thyroid, and even prostate cancer. An investigation by Proekt media revealed that a top thyroid cancer surgeon visited Putin no fewer than 35 times at his Black Sea resort, Sochi. The tyrant is also reportedly followed constantly by a neurosurgeon, raising fears of neurological or oncological issues. Footage of Putin greeting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in April 2022 showed him trembling uncontrollably, his knees appearing to buckle as he attempted a handshake. He has since been caught in multiple clips tapping his foot, gripping tables for support and slouching awkwardly in meetings – including during a 12-minute briefing with defence chief Sergei Shoigu where his hand clutched a desk throughout. Alongside cancer and Parkinson's rumours, some reports have also linked Putin to multiple sclerosis (MS) – a chronic condition affecting the brain and spinal cord. Though less widely reported, speculation about MS has emerged due to Putin's unsteady gait, rigid posture, and occasional difficulty with movement – all potential symptoms of the disease. Videos have shown him walking with stiffness, appearing to drag his legs, and struggling with coordination. As the war rumbles on, Goff revealed the recipe for Ukraine success - more weapons from Europe and targeting Russian assets. He said: "When the Ukrainians are successfully armed and prepared, they can hold out - and there's an increased chance of forcing some sort of settlement. "If not, Putin can continue this war for as long as he likes - to the point where the Ukrainians are forced to kind of seek a very disadvantageous peace, or ceasefire." Goff warns it would be "very unstable" with "no guarantee that some sort of war won't break out in the future". And outside Russia, Goff believes a regime change in Iran would have a direct impact on Putin's war. He said: "A change in regime would undermine that support and help isolate Russia just a little bit more." 8 8
Business Wire
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Qrypt Appoints Former CIA Senior Executive Ralph Goff to Board of Advisors
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Qrypt is proud to announce that Ralph Goff has joined its Board of Advisors. With over 35 years of CIA experience, Ralph is a distinguished former executive who served as a six-time Chief of Station in various regions, including Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia, with a focus on war zones and high cyber-threat environments. He also held the role of Chief of Operations for Europe and Eurasia, and Chief of the CIA's National Resources Division, where he worked closely with top U.S. private sector executives in banking, finance, and security. 'Welcoming Ralph to our team is an important moment for me personally and professionally,' said Kevin Chalker, Founder & CEO of Qrypt. 'I had the honor of serving with Ralph in the CIA, and I often reflect on the profound impact he had on me as a leader. His global understanding of national security threats – both past and present – will play a key role in shaping Qrypt's product roadmap and go-to-market strategy.' 'I am excited about what Denis Mandich, Kevin Chalker, and the entire Qrypt team are building. As the only full-stack American company solving the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) problem, and the only company in the world working with U.S. national labs like Oak Ridge and Los Alamos, Qrypt's position is peerless, and its expertise is unassailable. The convergence of AI and quantum is happening now, and Qrypt's PQC solutions will forever change the way data is protected, transmitted, and stored,' said Ralph Goff. Since retiring in late 2023, Ralph has been operating an independent consultancy, focusing on supporting U.S. national security objectives. He remains a public speaker and expert commentator with The Cipher Brief, while also contributing to veterans' charitable organizations like the Third Option Foundation. His honors include the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, and the Director NSA's Civilian Achievement Medal. Qrypt delivers next-generation quantum-secure encryption solutions, leveraging cutting-edge technology developed by world-leading cryptographic and quantum experts. Qrypt's solutions are already trusted across industries where the highest standards of security and privacy are essential.
Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Ex-CIA chief: We gave Ukraine enough weapons to bleed, not to win
After Vladimir Putin's masked commandos captured Crimea in the winter of 2014, the CIA's chief of operations for Europe and Eurasia, based at Langley, tried to warn his superiors of what was coming next. 'I was trying to ring the alarm bell that the seeds of World War Three are being sown in the Donbas right now and we need to do something about it,' said Ralph Goff, a six-time former station chief who spent three decades in America's foreign intelligence agency. 'But there were other priorities.' In March this year, Goff, now in his sixties, had been preparing to take over as the CIA's chief of clandestine operations, in an effort to reform the agency and make it less risk-averse. That was until President
