CIA Director Ratcliffe proposed Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit during Moscow visit
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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 a secret visit to Moscow on Tuesday. U.S. officials briefed Zelensky on the proposal Friday. The idea had been discussed by the U.S. administration, with Ukraine favoring the format while Putin previously rejected it.
Key Facts
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov and SVR Director Sergei Naryshkin in Moscow on Tuesday.
- U.S. officials briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday about Ratcliffe's visit and the trilateral summit proposal.
- Ukrainian Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa said Putin ordered the military to develop several scenarios for an offensive in northern Ukraine, with Kyiv and Chernihiv as key directions.
- Head of Zelensky's administration Kyrylo Budanov said on Thursday that U.S.-mediated negotiations could resume as early as September.
- President Trump described Ratcliffe's trip as "ordinary business" and said it was not related to warning Russia about a possible attack on NATO territory.
The Moscow Visit
CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for a secret visit, according to two sources familiar with the talks. He met with FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov and SVR Director Sergei Naryshkin. A main goal of the visit was to determine whether Russian intelligence chiefs could help bring Moscow back to negotiations with Kyiv under Washington's mediation. Ratcliffe assessed Bortnikov as a constructive participant capable of helping restore diplomatic contacts. The CIA declined to comment on the visit.
Summit Proposal and Reactions
Ratcliffe proposed a trilateral meeting of Trump, Putin and Zelensky during the Moscow visit. U.S. officials briefed Zelensky on Friday about the visit and the summit proposal. The idea of a Trump-Putin-Zelensky meeting had already been discussed by the U.S. administration. Ukrainian officials favored the format, while Putin had previously rejected it. President Trump called the trip "ordinary business" and denied it was a warning to Russia about a possible attack on NATO territory.
Ukrainian Concerns and Negotiation Status
Ukrainian officials say they have intelligence about Russia preparing a new large-scale escalation. Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa said Putin ordered the military to develop several scenarios for an offensive in northern Ukraine, with Kyiv and Chernihiv as key directions. The negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine under the Trump administration's mediation effectively stalled in mid-February after the start of the war with Iran. White House representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held separate contacts with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in recent months but failed to achieve significant progress. Head of Zelensky's administration Kyrylo Budanov said on Thursday that U.S.-mediated negotiations could resume as early as September.
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CIA Director Ratcliffe proposed Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit during Moscow visit
