Zelenskyy meets CIA chief in Ireland – Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met CIA Director John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland.

Source: Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the meeting

Details: One source said that the meeting had taken place on 21 September.

Another source stated that the two had spoken while their aircraft were refuelling, without specifying the exact date.

Both sources declined to disclose details of the conversation.

Background:

• On 25 August, it was reported that the CIA director had visited Moscow.
• On 28 August, Zelenskyy thanked the US side for the necessary "tone of the conversation with Russia". After Ratcliffe's visit, US President Donald Trump expressed hope that "something may come out of it".
• Media outlets reported that during his secret visit to Moscow, Ratcliffe had allegedly shared his pessimistic assessment of the state of Russia's war against Ukraine and urged the Russians to reach a deal before their military and economic situation deteriorated.
• The Financial Times reported that Ratcliffe could take on a more prominent role in Washington's diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine, as Donald Trump's administration considers changing the composition and division of responsibilities within its negotiating team.

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