US intelligence chief proposes meeting in Moscow with Russian, Ukrainian, US presidents — Axios

According to Deutsche Welle, Axios, citing two sources, reported that during a recent visit to Moscow, CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed a trilateral meeting involving the presidents of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine - Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Vladimir Zelensky.

The publication notes that this was the first time that Ratcliffe personally participated in diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.

One of Ratcliffe's main tasks during his visit to Moscow was to determine whether the leadership of the Russian special services could convince Vladimir Putin to resume negotiations with Ukraine. According to the sources interviewed by Axios, Ratcliffe assessed Alexander Bortnikov, the director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), as a person with a constructive position and who could help restart diplomatic efforts.

US officials have briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about Ratcliffe's talks in Moscow and his proposal for a trilateral summit. The Trump administration has previously proposed such a format, but Vladimir Putin has rejected the offer.

**What was the purpose of the CIA chief's visit to Moscow?**

John Ratcliffe flew to Russia on August 25 on a US Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft and left the country a few hours later. The visit was so secretive that even some senior White House officials were unaware of Ratcliffe's trip to Moscow.

One of the main goals of the visit was reportedly to convey to Russia that the US considers an attack on its NATO allies to be "unacceptable." Ratcliffe told FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov in a meeting in Moscow that he had a "negative assessment" of Russia's position in the war in Ukraine. The CIA director also said Moscow should begin talks with Ukraine before Russia's military and economic situation worsens further.