Iryna Nesterova11:37, 01.09.26

The Kremlin leader has even cleared his schedule for possible negotiations, journalists reported.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was initially prepared to meet in person with CIA Director John Ratcliffe during his visit to Moscow on August 25. The Kremlin leader even cleared his schedule for possible talks, but the meeting was canceled after the Russian ruler was informed of the contents of the American official’s message, the Agency reports , citing a source close to the Kremlin.

According to the journalists’ interlocutor, Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow with the intention of urging the Russian leadership to negotiate an end to the war as soon as possible. The CIA director reasoned that Russia’s military and economic situation was deteriorating and it was more profitable for Moscow to conclude an agreement now than to wait for further weakening.

The publication recalled that Ratcliffe met with the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, and the head of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov. As the source said, after one of these meetings, the content of the conversation was passed on to Putin, after which he refused to meet personally with the CIA director.

“His message looked as if Zelensky was already standing on Poklonnaya Hill and looking at the Kremlin through binoculars. It is clear to everyone that this is not so,” the Agency’s interlocutor said. Read also:

Describing the Kremlin’s reaction to this message, the journalists’ interlocutor said: “It seems that Ratcliffe got the address wrong.” The source does not know to what extent the CIA director’s position reflected the position of the entire administration of US President Donald Trump.

Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow

As UNIAN previously reported, CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a surprise visit to Russia on August 25. Media outlets reported that on the eve of this trip, the United States informed Ukraine that a high-level delegation was leaving for the Russian capital, and also asked to suspend strikes until the delegation left.

According to The Wall Street Journal, US President Donald Trump personally sent the CIA director to Moscow, hiding it from aides. American and European officials told reporters that one of Ratcliffe’s main signals to the Kremlin was a warning not to test NATO’s readiness to defend its members. In addition, he discussed with the Russian side the possible resumption of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and the topic of Iran.

Axios reported that the CIA director in Moscow had suggested a meeting between Trump, Zelensky and Putin to try to end the war. According to the newspaper’s sources, Ratcliffe’s visit was partly aimed at finding out whether Russian intelligence chiefs could help persuade Putin to resume talks with Ukraine under U.S. mediation.

According to The Economist, after the CIA chief’s visit, Putin made the decision to escalate the war. One of Putin’s longtime associates told the publication that he likely perceived Ratcliffe’s visit as a sign of American weakness.

(C)UNIAN 2026