U.S. Briefs Kyiv on Secret Moscow Meetings Involving CIA Director

On August 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Washington had shared intelligence about a CIA Director John Ratcliffe trip to Moscow on August 25, during which he met Russian intelligence officials. Zelenskyy thanked the United States for the information and for what he called a “necessary tone” in diplomatic contacts with Russia.

Zelenskyy says US briefed Ukraine on recent Moscow meetings Kyiv IndependentThe Straits TimesZelensky Says US Briefed Ukraine on CIA-Moscow Meetings Associated PressWION

Ratcliffe’s visit was the most senior Trump-administration trip to Russia since early 2024. It followed the landing of a U.S. C-17 transport at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, an unusual movement that attracted attention from Western and Russian media. The timing coincided with heightened tensions over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

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• Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Ratcliffe’s talks with Russian intelligence services but said he did not meet President Vladimir Putin, adding that Putin was immediately informed.

Associated PressZelensky Says US Briefed Ukraine on CIA-Moscow Meetings Kyiv IndependentZelenskyy says US briefed Ukraine on recent Moscow meetings The Straits TimesWION

• **U.S.

Kyiv Independent

• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland was in constant contact with CIA leadership and was not surprised by the operation.

Zelenskyy says US briefed Ukraine on recent Moscow meetings

• The CIA Director’s unannounced visit occurred on August 25.

WION

• A U.S. C-17 flew from Joint Base Andrews (Maryland) to Riga, Latvia, then to Vnukovo, where it remained on the ground for roughly eight and a half hours before departing.

Zelensky Says US Briefed Ukraine on CIA-Moscow Meetings

• No public list of meeting participants was released; Zelenskyy’s statement did not specify who attended the Moscow talks.

Zelenskyy says US briefed Ukraine on recent Moscow meetings

• “Today we received information from the American side about the meetings in Moscow that took place these days. There were a number of meetings there,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Straits Times

• “I thank them for the information and for the necessary tone of the conversation with Russia,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Straits Times

• “He's there on very sort of semi-routine (business) — I hate to disappoint people,” — Donald Trump

Kyiv Independent

• “There were contacts with the intelligence services,” — Dmitry Peskov

Kyiv Independent

• “We are not taken by surprise by any information regarding the operations and initiatives the CIA Director is conducting,” — Donald Tusk

Zelenskyy says US briefed Ukraine on recent Moscow meetings