Vladimir Putin was initially scheduled to meet with the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, during the American official’s visit to Moscow. The Russian leader changed his mind after learning the purpose of the trip, according to the Russian opposition press.
Ratcliffe would have come to Moscow to urge the Kremlin administration to reach an agreement for peace in Ukraine, writes Meduza, referring to the sources of the Agenstvo publication. The head of the CIA believes that the military and economic situation in Russia is deteriorating and it is more advantageous for the Kremlin to reach an agreement now, rather than wait for the situation to worsen.
Western media reported that the CIA director met with Sergei Naryshkin, head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), as well as with Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB.
The content of one of these meetings was conveyed to Vladimir Putin, after which the Kremlin cancelled the meeting with John Ratcliffe. According to the cited source, the message was perceived by Moscow as an inevitable victory of the Kremlin and the approach of Ukrainian troops towards the Russian capital, a fact disputed by Putin’s administration.