Ukrainian site Gordonua.com has published an interview with Oleg Kalugin a retired KGB general and Vladimir Putin’s former boss in foreign intelligence, currently living in Washington, DC. The interview was conducted in March. In it, Gen. Kalugin had a few insights on the current president’s relationship with the KGB and “comrades of the female sex” when visiting Moscow in the 1980s. Here are some relevant excerpts.
Oleg Danilovich, you have promised to talk to me about Trump. You’ve said you know and understand what he did in Moscow. Besides, now that the Mueller investigation is over, I’d like to know what you think of Trump.
Trump has been elected by the American people, so whether we like it or not, we have to accept that.
We’ve accepted…
But, for example, when there was Obama, he was very likeable to me in many parameters. As for Trump, when he was in Russia, long before he entered the political arena, he behaved… let’s say, in a way that would make the KGB curious.
Can you be more specific?
I don’t remember whether he was married or not, but he behaved freely.
Are we talking 2013 or earlier?
Earlier, because in 2013 I was already settled in America. What I have read in Russia, that was pre-2000.
You’ve “read”?
Some documents. I had access to all the documents of the organization famous in its day. I mean, before the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Are they internal document?
Yes, obviously. Back then, all foreigners who were showing pointed interests in Russian everyday life (girls and other things) were taken note of and they, as we said, were an object of very interested following.
Let’s start there, because Putin has recently made a statement…
Ah, yes, my former subordinate.
And when he was asked about Trump, he answered, “What, you think we follow every foreigner?”
Not every one, of course, we simply didn’t have physical resources for that, but most of them, especially from the United States and Europe, were always under KGB surveillance. KGB was the biggest organization in the world, numbers-wise and in other respects. And when it came to foreign agents, too.
Вам могу назвать одну цифру – до 1962 года, по-моему, советская разведка имела в Соединенных Штатах несколько сот американцев, которые работали на советскую разведку. В основном они сотрудничали по идеологическим причинам. Они хотели строить когда-то социализм и коммунизм в этой стране, в Америке, но еще не успели стать членами Компартии. Компартию США нам нельзя было трогать. С определенного момента было указание: Компартию не трогать. Она и так под контролем ФБР была. Нельзя было дискредитировать ее совершенно. Но члены Компартии могли давать нам советы.
So, is it true to assume that Trump was a subject of interest of Soviet intelligence agencies?
Trump is a businessman, a successful one, if you look at his ambitions, but when he was in Moscow, he met some Soviet, as we say, comrades of the female sex, in particular, and he left some tracks.
He’s been to Moscow since back in the 1970s…
Yes, for quite a bit of time…
And was looked at by the KGB?
Obviously.
Because he met some girls?
Yes.
How do you know this?
I’ve known this since my time working for the KGB.
So, from some reports?
Yes, because I was the head of the Foreign Counterintelligence Service. Its number one priority was intelligence, counterintelligence and police worldwide. But the US was, obviously, in first place. Europe – in second and so one.
And you remember Trump?
I do. It was a while ago, and he was noted back then.
Does this mean Trump could have been recruited back in the 1980s?
It doesn’t mean he was recruited. But it is definite that the KGB had material on him.
What happened usually in situations like this?
In situations like this, it could be that nothing happened, at least at that time. But at some period in history or in life, they could remember it. KGB has always had good memory.
They could remember or the definitely did remember?
They could. Not definitely, but could.
At what time would they?
If, for example, he was in some way close to Russian interests, then for sure.
Which he did. He had business in Russia, too.
This is why he was the object of interest back then, in the olden day. And, you know how he is very friendly with Putin? I think there is a certain reason for that.
This is what we are trying to figure out, too.
I think this is why, in particular. What I am talking about.
Because he knows that there is komptomat?
Yes, he knows.
What format is this kompromat in? Videos?
This I don’t know.
So, if it is correct to assume that Trump was in the line of sight of Soviet intelligence…
As all Americans were back then, it was inevitable.
If like you said, there was kompromat on him…
We can only guess that.
You said you knew he had “flings”…
Yes, like many Americans had “flings.” I have read the archives.
Do you remember what there was in particular?
I don’t remember, some dates with girls… Typical stuff for Americans…
Just random girls or someone who was planted?
Could have been random ones, but those “random” girls, who worked (meaning, slept) with foreigners, a great majority of them were usually controlled by the KGB. Of course, there were volunteers, too. But sooner or later they would all become informants. They were either punished for prostitution or told: here, you will be informants instead.
So we shouldn’t assume pure love here?
We shouldn’t. Though things happens in life…
What about the model agencies, from where many of these girls would emerge? Were the agencies also controlled by the KGB?
Yes, the internal service in particular. The KGB Internal Service. It controlled everything in my time, except for the party apparatus.
I am asking because two of Trump’s wives, by a coincidence, are from model agencies.
Yes, and both are, as we say, of Slavic origin.
Would I be in my rights to assume that they could have been recruited before they met Trump?
You can’t discount that. I don’t know, but it can’t be dismissed as a possibility.
So, what would a person with kompromat on him have to be afraid of? Would he be afraid of his affairs in Moscow in the 1970s be publicized?
I think that any person in their right mind who cares about their career or family life wouldn’t want this type of publication anywhere and at any time.
Would this be enough for him to show special outward love and respect for Putin?
Yes. I think this is one of the reason he is especially friendly towards some Russian bosses.
Is this reason enough, or should there be anything else?
There could be something else. But this is one of the serious reasons. I, by the way, back in my time with this organization, had my own approach to problems like that. If I were caught in bed with a girl and someone tried to recruit me because of that, I would have said the recruiter: “Listen, what great pictures you have! Can you make me copies so I give them to my friends?” This type of reaction disarms immediately. I would have done this, it’s not a joke.
So, if there is Trump kompromat…
There definitely is kompromat, I know this. Whether it was ever used, I don’t know.
Is there anything Trump is doing that points to not just kompromat but to recruitment?
His friendliness with the current Russian leadership creates some questions.
After two years of watching Trump, what is your opinion? Is he an agent or not?
I cannot tell, I don’t know. But there is no doubt that he has left a trail in KGB documents.
