The CIA Director Turned Up in Kiev. Here's Why.

The Daily Beast Eli Lake and Josh Rogin report that CIA Director John Brennan visited Kiev to work up a plan to share US intelligence on Russian troop position with Ukraine.

Over the weekend, CIA Director John Brennan met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaliy Yarema to discuss the formation of new, more secure channels for sharing U.S. intelligence with the country now fighting pro-Russian secessionists in its eastern cities, according to U.S. and Western officials briefed on the meeting.

It’s a vitally important issue because the Ukrainians are badly outmatched by the Russian forces massed on their border and infiltrating their cities. If Kiev is going to have a hope of withstanding the pressure from Moscow, their intelligence on the Russian military’s activities will have to be exquisite.

The military and several members of Congress have pushed for the US to share data on Russian troop positions with Ukraine. Sharing intel with Ukraine is tricky, though, because the Russians have thoroughly penetrated Ukraine’s military and intelligence. Whatever we tell Ukraine is bound to get to Moscow in short order.

So…

The Ukrainian government is said to be requesting advanced secure communications equipment from the United States, one on a long list of items the U.S. government has not yet agreed to provide. On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney declined to say what if any non-lethal military equipment the U.S. might provide the Ukrainian armed forces, beyond the military rations that were delivered earlier this month.

Happy Meals aren’t going to help very much.