CIA Chief May Take Bigger Role in Russia-Ukraine Talks

CIA Director John Ratcliffe is preparing to take a bigger role in US negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, according to the Financial Times.

The possible shift comes amid a diplomatic stalemate after four and a half years of war. Washington is reportedly considering scaling back the involvement of US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Both the White House and a CIA spokeswoman dismissed the report as false. However, FT sources said President Donald Trump had not yet made a final decision.

Witkoff’s informal negotiating style has frustrated Russia, Ukraine and Kyiv’s Western allies. Ukraine felt he had not put enough pressure on the Kremlin, while Moscow blamed him in part for the failure of last year’s Alaska summit.

US-led peace efforts foundered in late February and were subsequently put on hold as the Trump administration became preoccupied with the war in Iran.

In late August, Ratcliffe made a surprise visit to Moscow for talks with senior Russian intelligence officials. FT sources said Putin had planned to meet him but backed out after Ratcliffe gave a downbeat assessment of Moscow’s war effort. The Kremlin denies that any meeting was planned. Ukrainian intelligence later viewed the trip as a sign that Ratcliffe was taking on a more prominent role in the peace process.

(max)