Putin refused to meet with CIA chief John Ratcliffe after a report on his position

According to the publication’s source, Ratcliffe urged the Russian leadership to agree as soon as possible on ending the war. The source claims that the American official proceeded from the assumption that Russia’s military and economic situation was worsening, and therefore Moscow would be better off striking a deal now.

During the trip, Ratcliffe met with SVR Director Sergei Naryshkin and FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov. According to «Agencia», after one of these meetings the content of the conversation was relayed to Putin, and after that the talks between the president and the CIA chief were canceled.

According to the Kremlin, Ratcliffe held talks in Moscow with Russian intelligence services, but did not meet with Putin. They also said that the president was later briefed on the results of the conversations, but their content was not disclosed.

Among the versions of the purpose of the visit cited by Reuters, Axios, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, and The New York Times were a proposal to hold a summit of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as a warning against attacking NATO countries. The New York Times, in particular, wrote that Ratcliffe conveyed to Bortnikov his bleak assessment of Russia’s position in the war.

Sources

• Novaya Gazeta Europe