New details emerge on CIA director's secret Moscow trip: three-way summit reportedly proposed

According to Axios, citing two sources, new details have surfaced about CIA Director John Ratcliffe's unannounced visit to Moscow earlier this week. Per the outlet's information, Ratcliffe raised the idea of holding a trilateral meeting bringing together US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Aim: revive US mediation

Sources say the proposal was meant to restore Washington's mediating role in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. During the visit, Ratcliffe reportedly also tried to determine whether senior Russian intelligence officials could help persuade Putin to return to the negotiating table.

Zelensky already briefed

On Friday, US officials briefed Zelensky both on Ratcliffe's talks in Moscow and on the proposal for a trilateral meeting. The possibility of such a format had already been mentioned in earlier statements from the Trump administration. Zelensky reportedly welcomed the idea, while Putin has previously declined this kind of three-way format.

The latest information suggests that during the Moscow talks, one option discussed was reviving diplomatic efforts to achieve more direct dialogue between the two countries' leaders.

Visit sparked speculation

Ratcliffe's Wednesday visit to the Russian capital was not announced in advance and triggered widespread debate over its true purpose. US media had earlier reported that the CIA chief may have warned Russia in Moscow against attacking any NATO member state. The Kremlin pushed back on such reports, with Russian officials denying them and accusing the West of escalating tensions.