CIA chief proposes Trump-Zelenskyy-Putin meeting — Axios
Photo: CIA Director John Ratcliffe (Getty Images)
During a secret trip to Moscow, CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed holding a trilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The goal was to try to end the war, according to Axios.
The agency notes that this was the first time Ratcliffe had personally participated in diplomatic efforts to achieve a breakthrough in relations between Ukraine and Russia.
According to sources, the CIA director's visit was partly aimed at determining whether Russian intelligence chiefs could help persuade Putin to resume negotiations mediated by the U.S.
Ratcliffe met in Moscow with Sergei Naryshkin, head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), and Alexander Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Sources say Ratcliffe concluded that Bortnikov was a constructive player capable of helping to restart diplomatic efforts.
It is also important to mention a report in The New York Times, which states that Ratcliffe gave Bortnikov a bleak assessment of the war situation, urging Russia to reach an agreement before the situation worsens.
At the same time, Ukrainian officials are skeptical of Putin's intentions and claim to have intelligence indicating that Putin is planning a large-scale escalation of the war.
Negotiations collapse
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the Trump administration, were suspended in mid-February following the outbreak of war with Iran.
Over the past few months, Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have held separate talks with representatives of Russia and Ukraine. However, no significant progress has been made.
Meanwhile, the head of the President's Office of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, told reporters recently that negotiations with Russia, mediated by the US, could resume in September.
Earlier on Friday, Zelenskyy thanked the US for setting the necessary tone in talks with Russia and stated that the Trump administration was promoting a realistic vision of what needs to be done and what needs to be achieved.
