US spy chief Ratcliffe preparing for bigger role in Russia, Ukraine talks, FT reports
The White House may scale back Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as talks stall, while Ratcliffe keeps contacts with Russian and Ukrainian intelligence.
- On Wednesday, the Financial Times reported the White House is considering shifting lead Russia-Ukraine negotiation duties from envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
- Recent missions by Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv yielded no major breakthroughs, leaving peace talks stalled as Russia maintains its core territorial demands.
- CIA Director Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on August 25 for unannounced meetings with Russian intelligence officials, marking the first CIA chief visit to Russia since November 2021.
- The White House and CIA spokesperson Liz Lyons denied the report as "false" and "totally fake news," while officials noted President Donald Trump has not finalized any decision.
- Negotiations face significant hurdles with Russia maintaining strict territorial demands, as the U.S. seeks new strategies to break the diplomatic stalemate in a conflict now in its fifth year.
62 Articles
62 Articles
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has denied a report in the Financial Times (FT) that its director, John Ratcliffe, is considering taking a bigger role in US efforts to mediate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, as Washington seeks a breakthrough after fruitless efforts.
White House Eyes New Negotiators to Replace Witkoff and Kushner
Reports of a potential reshuffle among U.S. negotiators on the Ukrainian issue may be a tactical move to insulate President Donald Trump from criticism, according to Alexey Podberezkin, Director of the Center for Military-Political Studies at the Almaz-Antey Concern. The Financial Times recently indicated that White House special envoy Steven Witkoff and businessman Jared Kushner might be replaced in the negotiation process. Podberezkin suggests…
Trump's duo of investors, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who were tasked with mediating peace between Russia and Ukraine, clearly failed in their work.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe is preparing to play a more important role in Washington-mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, American officials told their European counterparts, writes Financial Times (FT).
After eight diplomatic missions to Moscow and one to Kiev did not produce any advance in the peace negotiations, the White House evaluates the withdrawal of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner from the talks between Russia and Ukraine. The mission carried out last Saturday by Donald Trump's emissary may have been the last, under the conditions that Washington is analysing a reshuffle of the negotiating team, according to sources quoted by the Financ…
According to Financial Times sources, President Trump has not yet made a final decision on the matter.
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