Russia is pushing to re-establish its diplomatic presence in the United States, but American officials suspect this effort is actually a cover to rebuild its spy network.
This development has been reported by CNN, citing current and former intelligence sources, as well as journalists from The Moscow Times.
Moscow’s Push for a Diplomatic Comeback
Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, U.S.-Russia contacts have intensified, particularly in discussions on Ukraine and restoring economic ties.
However, officials warn that Moscow’s real goal is to place intelligence officers under diplomatic cover in embassies and consulates across Washington, New York, and Houston.
Since 2016, the U.S. has expelled over 100 Russian diplomats suspected of espionage. The most recent wave of expulsions occurred in October 2024, including Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov, effectively dismantling much of Russia’s intelligence footprint in the U.S.
Now, Russia is pushing hard to restore that presence.
A National Security Threat?
One U.S. official described Moscow’s enthusiasm for reinstating its diplomats as “an understatement”, warning that the return of Russian personnel in greater numbers could pose a serious national security risk.
Another source, a congressman with access to intelligence briefings, called the situation “extremely troubling”, stressing that the last round of expulsions mainly targeted covert operatives.
"If they return, the FBI may not be able to handle the sheer volume of counterintelligence work required to track them," the lawmaker warned.
A Western intelligence official confirmed that rebuilding its spy network in the U.S. is a top priority for Moscow. He added that Russian intelligence services still heavily rely on human intelligence operations and value face-to-face meetings with contacts in the U.S.
Russia Tying Diplomatic Restoration to Ukraine Talks
According to two U.S. officials, Russia is deliberately delaying the next high-level meeting on Ukraine until Washington makes “significant progress” in allowing Russian diplomatic personnel back into the country.
The first step in this process took place on February 18 in Saudi Arabia, where U.S. and Russian delegations met for the first time in three years of war in Ukraine. Following the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington and Moscow had agreed to restore diplomatic missions in both capitals.
This agreement, officials say, could open the door for Russia to flood the U.S. with intelligence officers under the guise of diplomacy, reviving concerns that led to previous mass expulsions.
