CIA chief proposed Trump-Zelenskyy-Putin summit during secret Moscow trip

CIA Director John Ratcliffe discussed a potential trilateral summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin during his covert visit to Moscow, stated Axios on Aug. 30. The visit aimed to gauge Russia's willingness to cooperate in resuming U.S.-mediated talks with Ukraine, according to informed sources.

Ratcliffe met with Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service head Sergey Naryshkin and FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, both of whom he deemed "constructive players" for diplomatic efforts. U.S. officials informed Zelenskyy of Ratcliffe's talks and the proposed summit, as the U.S. had previously suggested such a meeting, but Putin had consistently refused.

On Aug. 28, Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov revealed that Russia had drafted several offensive scenarios for the Kyiv and Chernihiv sectors. Zelenskyy had previously proposed an in-person meeting with Putin, but the Russian leader found reasons to reject it. Zelenskyy's June 4 open letter to Putin called for an end to the war through a format involving both leaders, a full ceasefire, and an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange, which Putin dismissed as containing elements of boorishness.

On Aug. 24, Ukraine, along with U.S. President Donald Trump and European officials, formulated a plan for a ceasefire, the mutual withdrawal of forces from the front line, and a buffer zone. Trilateral talks between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia were halted in February 2026 following the outbreak of the Iran war. Ratcliffe's secret arrival in Moscow was reported on Aug.

24, with the U.S. urging Ukraine to avoid strikes on Moscow, St. Petersburg, and northern Russia during his visit. The Wall Street Journal suggested Ratcliffe's trip could have been a warning to Putin due to intelligence indicating Russia's mobilization preparations and a potential NATO test. On Aug. 26, Trump dismissed Ratcliffe's Moscow visit as "semi-routine" and denied any connection to a threat of a Russian strike on the United Kingdom.

On Aug. 27, Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov asserted that the war in Ukraine was not the primary focus of Ratcliffe's Moscow visit, which media outlets reported was intended to deliver a pessimistic assessment of Russia's war trajectory and to urge Russia to reach a deal before its military and economic situation deteriorated further.