Trump's CIA chief delivers covert assessment of Ukraine war to Putin

The CIA's top envoy, John Ratcliffe, visited Moscow in August to evaluate the Russia-Ukraine conflict and conveyed his assessment that the fighting has reached a deadlock, with Russian forces making no significant advances and Ukrainian troops failing to expel occupiers. Using a secret intelligence conduit, his conclusions were documented for President Vladimir Putin, aiming to encourage a diplomatic settlement. Ratcliffe later spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky during a stop in Ireland, confirming the purpose of the mission.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has publicly denounced Zelensky and labeled Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities a "disgrace," despite IEA data showing a sharp decline in Russian refinery output. The CIA is also reportedly supplying Ukraine with intelligence to target Russian energy sites, a practice described as more aggressive than under the previous administration. Restrictions on Starlink services have further hampered Ukrainian defenses, highlighting the growing tension between Trump's rhetoric and his intelligence chief's covert outreach.