CIA Director Proposes US-Russia-Ukraine Trilateral Summit in Moscow Visit to Revive Peace Talks

CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed a trilateral summit between President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Moscow this week, aiming to restart stalled peace negotiations, according to reports.

Ratcliffe's Moscow Trip Marks First In-Person Push for Peace

Axios reported Saturday, citing two sources familiar with the matter, that Ratcliffe met with Russian intelligence chiefs Sergei Naryshkin and Alexander Bortnikov during an unannounced Moscow visit on Tuesday. This marks his first direct involvement in the diplomatic effort.

U.S. officials briefed Zelenskyy on the proposed trilateral meeting on Friday, according to the report. Sources said Trump had previously floated the idea, and Zelenskyy expressed support, but Putin has so far declined.

Trump told Axios that Ratcliffe's visit was "routine business" and not a warning to Russia against striking NATO territory. The New York Times separately reported that Ratcliffe gave Bortnikov a "pessimistic assessment" of the war and urged Russia to reach a deal before the situation deteriorates.

The CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump has previously met with Putin in Alaska and with Zelenskyy at the White House in efforts to end the war that began in 2022. No trilateral summit has yet taken place.

Deadly Attack Near Kyiv Underscores Urgency

The proposal comes as officials said Russian drones struck the village of Mila in Kyiv's Bucha district on Friday night, killing at least 37 people in one of the deadliest attacks of the war this year.

Following the attack, Zelenskyy said in a video posted on X: "A criminal investigation is underway. All facts must be established."

Since last night and throughout today, I have been receiving reports on the situation in the village of Mila in the Kyiv region, where explosions began after a Russian strike. The situation is very bad, with serious negligence by those who stored explosives...

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський August 29, 2026