CIA Director Ratcliffe proposes Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit in Moscow
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CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed a trilateral summit of U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Moscow this week, Axios reported citing two sources. Ratcliffe met with Russian intelligence chiefs Sergei Naryshkin and Alexander Bortnikov on Tuesday and concluded Bortnikov was constructive and could help revive diplomacy. U.S. officials briefed Zelensky on Friday about the proposal, which the Trump administration had floated before.
Key Facts
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed a Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit during his Moscow visit this week, Axios reported citing two sources.
- Ratcliffe met with SVR Director Sergei Naryshkin and FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov in Moscow on Tuesday.
- Ratcliffe assessed Bortnikov as constructive and capable of helping resume diplomatic efforts, the sources said.
- U.S. officials briefed Zelensky on Friday about the Moscow talks and the summit proposal.
- Washington-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv were suspended in mid-February after the war with Iran began.
The Moscow Visit
CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday and met with SVR Director Sergei Naryshkin and FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov. The visit marked Ratcliffe's first personal involvement in efforts to break the deadlock in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. One goal of the trip was to determine whether Russian intelligence chiefs could persuade President Putin to return to U.S.-mediated talks with Ukraine, two sources told Axios.
Summit Proposal
Ratcliffe floated a three-way meeting of Trump, Putin and Zelensky during the visit, according to Axios. The Trump administration had previously raised the idea of such a summit. On Friday, U.S. officials informed Zelensky about Ratcliffe's Moscow talks and the summit proposal.
Diplomatic Context
Washington-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv were suspended in mid-February after the start of the war with Iran. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner have held separate talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in recent months. Those contacts have not produced substantial progress, Axios reported.
4 sources
CIA Director Ratcliffe proposes Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit in Moscow
