CIA Chief Proposed Trump-Putin-Zelensky Summit

CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed a trilateral summit between US President Donald Trump, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his unannounced visit to Moscow earlier this week, Axios reported. Citing informed sources, Axios noted this was the first instance of Ratcliffe becoming directly involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a breakthrough in Russia’s war against Ukraine.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The primary goal of the visit was to gauge whether Russian intelligence chiefs could help persuade Putin to resume US-mediated negotiations. During the trip, Ratcliffe held meetings with Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) head Sergei Naryshkin and Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov. Sources told the publication that Ratcliffe considers Bortnikov a “constructive player” who possesses the capability to help facilitate renewed diplomatic efforts between Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow. ICBM test and regional military posturing Ratcliffe’s Aug. 25 visit occurred amid heightened military maneuvering and secretive security measures. On Friday, Aug. 28, three days after the CIA director’s meetings in Moscow, Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces conducted a training launch of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk cosmodrome to the Kamchatka Peninsula. While the specific missile model was not disclosed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian arsenal relies heavily on the solid-fuel Topol and Yars systems. These missiles possess a 10,500-kilometer range, are capable of reaching the United States, and form 56% of the country’s strategic nuclear forces. Other Topics of Interest Nearly Killed in Ukraine, Norwegian Filmmaker Returns to Film Viking Roots Norwegian filmmaker Harald Omland discussed his near-death experience in Ukraine and his upcoming film project with Kyiv Post Chief Editor Bohdan Nahaylo. The ICBM test followed earlier reports that Ratcliffe had delivered a grave assessment of the Russian economy and military performance to Bortnikov while warning the Kremlin against potential provocations targeting NATO members. Ahead of Ratcliffe’s visit, Washington also reportedly requested that Ukraine temporarily halt drone strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg to facilitate the talks. Concurrently, Putin signed three classified decrees related to undisclosed national security measures. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.