CIA Director Proposed a Meeting Between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin — Axios
During a secret trip to Moscow, CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed the idea of a trilateral meeting between Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Vladimir Putin. According to Axios, the U.S. hopes this will help determine whether Russia can be brought back to the negotiating table and bring an end to the war closer.
During his visit to Moscow, CIA Director John Ratcliffe discussed the possibility of a new diplomatic initiative regarding the war in Ukraine. According to Axios, he proposed holding a meeting involving the presidents of the United States, Ukraine, and Russia.
The participants would be Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Vladimir Putin. The goal of such a meeting would be to try to find a way to end the war and resume the negotiation process. Axios notes that this was the first time Ratcliffe had personally been involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at a possible breakthrough in relations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Why Did Retcliffe Travel to Moscow?
According to the publication’s sources, one of the main goals of the trip was to determine whether Russian intelligence agencies could influence Putin and convince him to agree once again to negotiations mediated by the U.S. In Moscow, Retcliffe held meetings with the heads of Russian intelligence agencies. Specifically, he spoke with Sergei Naryshkin, director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, and Alexander Bortnikov, director of the FSB.
According to Axios sources, following these meetings, Retcliffe concluded that Bortnikov might be a more constructive participant in the process and capable of helping to restore diplomatic ties. This is important because the Russian leadership has not yet shown a willingness to abandon its maximalist demands regarding Ukraine.
What Retcliffe Told Bortnikov
The New York Times previously reported on Retcliffe’s conversation with Bortnikov. According to the publication, the CIA director gave the Russian security official a rather bleak assessment of the situation on the front lines. Retcliffe reportedly urged Moscow to negotiate an end to the war before Russia’s position could become even more difficult.
In other words, according to this account, the American side was trying to convey a simple message to the Kremlin: prolonging the war could worsen Russia’s own situation. At the same time, no specific agreements on a cessation of hostilities have been reported following Retcliffe’s meetings in Moscow.
Why a meeting of the three presidents remains only a proposal for now
The idea of a meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin does not in itself mean that such a summit has already been agreed upon. At this time, there is no information about the date, location, or format of a possible meeting. It is also unknown whether the Russian side will agree to it. For Ukraine, the Kremlin’s position remains the main problem. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly stated that Moscow is using the prospect of negotiations to buy time and prepare for new attacks.
The Ukrainian side also has intelligence that, according to government officials, may indicate that Russia is preparing for a larger-scale escalation. Therefore, Kyiv is skeptical of signals suggesting Putin’s readiness for negotiations. Ukrainian officials emphasize that the Kremlin’s true intentions should be judged not by its statements, but by its actions.
What This Might Mean
If Axios’s information is confirmed, Retcliffe’s trip to Moscow suggests that the Trump administration continues to seek direct channels to influence the Kremlin. A trilateral meeting could be an attempt to bring the leaders of the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia to the same table. However, for it to take place, all parties would need to agree to such a format.
For now, this is merely a proposal and diplomatic sounding, not an agreed-upon summit. At the same time, the very fact that the CIA director is in contact with Russian intelligence agencies shows that Washington is trying to explore various options for resuming negotiations. For Ukraine, the key question remains whether Russia is truly ready to end the war, rather than using the negotiations to buy time and prepare for a new wave of attacks. This is reported by Axios.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Russia this week took place under conditions of heightened secrecy. The decision to send the head of U.S. intelligence to Moscow in person was made personally by U.S. President Donald Trump.
During his secret visit to Moscow this week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe conveyed to the Russian side a pessimistic assessment of the course of the war against Ukraine and urged the Kremlin to begin serious negotiations before Russia’s military and economic situation deteriorates further.
