Trump mulls expanding CIA chief Ratcliffe's role in Ukraine peace talks
President Trump is weighing a larger diplomatic function for CIA Director John Ratcliffe in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, while the White House calls related reports false.
Sources close to the administration say President Trump is contemplating giving CIA Director John Ratcliffe a heightened diplomatic role in the stalled Russia-Ukraine peace process, which could shrink the responsibilities of special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The White House has labeled the story "totally fake news," yet insiders indicate that a definitive choice has not yet been reached. Ratcliffe's unannounced trip to Moscow on Aug. 25, his first known official visit to the Russian capital, was portrayed by Trump as standard business rather than a warning mission.
Witkoff is likely to retain his envoy position and may collaborate with Ratcliffe on the negotiations. Recent talks in Kyiv and Moscow have not produced a breakthrough, with President Volodymyr Zelensky warning that the conflict will likely continue into winter. The Kremlin continues to reject a cease-fire unless Ukraine cedes the Donbas region, while Kyiv seeks a freeze along current front lines and security guarantees.
How this was covered
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How this story developed
- Aug 14 Russia claims strikes on Ukrainian rail hub and vessels as drones hit Russian ports
- Sep 8 Zelensky said the UN General Assembly could serve as a venue for renewed negotiations and referenced a “winter package” of proposals.
- Sep 8 President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin held a one‑hour phone conversation discussing steps to end the Ukraine conflict.
- Sep 8 Zelensky said he expects to meet Trump in September to discuss ballistic weapons and missile‑defence support.
- Sep 8 The leaders affirmed continuation of prisoner‑exchange talks and agreed to keep a direct phone line open.
- Sep 9 Ukrainian drones also struck the Russian Black Sea naval base in Novorossisk.
- Sep 9 Putin said capture of the entire eastern Donbass is only a matter of time.
- Sep 9 Russian drones hit two districts of Kyiv on Sept. 9, injuring nine people and igniting fires in a high-rise building and a warehouse.
- Sep 9 Norway's prime minister said a drone came close to hitting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft as it took off from Moldova en route to King Harald V's funeral in Oslo.
- Sep 9 Trump said Putin signaled willingness to reach a Ukraine peace deal.
- Sep 10 Zelenskyy met Norwegian leaders in Oslo to discuss further military aid after the drone near‑miss.
- Sep 10 Zelensky called for European and U.S. leaders to take a stronger negotiating role and said Ukraine is ready to make concessions.
- Sep 10 A drone strike in Sumy added three deaths and two injuries to the day's casualties.
- Sep 10 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is hopeful U.S.-backed Ukraine peace talks will restart soon.
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