CIA Chief Met Russian Counterpart in Moscow, NYT Reports

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a secret trip to Moscow this week to meet with Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). The meeting, reported by The New York Times citing current and former U.S. officials, focused on a stark assessment of Russia's war in Ukraine.

According to the report, Ratcliffe conveyed a highly pessimistic outlook on Russia's military and economic standing. His message urged Moscow to seriously consider a deal to end the war before its situation worsens significantly. The CIA chief did not issue threats about potential consequences if President Vladimir Putin chose to continue the conflict.

The New York Times noted that the CIA has maintained communication channels with the FSB and Russia's foreign intelligence service, SVR, for years. Ratcliffe's direct line with Bortnikov operates alongside other contacts established by former U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Some U.S. officials believe Putin might take Ratcliffe's message more seriously than communications through standard diplomatic channels, given Ratcliffe's reputation for a hardline stance against Russia. Ukrainian officials reportedly view Ratcliffe as a potentially more neutral mediator than Witkoff and Kushner, whom Kyiv suspects of being too close to the Russian side.

Ratcliffe's private message to Bortnikov reportedly stems from U.S. intelligence assessments indicating Russia has made little battlefield progress despite significant losses. He previously stated that the average lifespan of a Russian soldier on the front lines is less than 35 minutes. He also noted that Russia had gained only about one percent of additional Ukrainian territory in the 18 months since he became CIA director, attributing this partly to Ukraine's "exceptional ability" to use drones.