John Ratcliffe, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, made a confidential visit to Moscow this week to convey a frank assessment of Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine and to encourage Russian officials to consider negotiating an end to the war. According to current and former U.S. officials, Ratcliffe met with Aleksandr V. Bortnikov, head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), sharing a sober evaluation of Russia’s military and economic challenges without issuing any explicit warnings or threats.

The visit marks a continuation of intelligence-level communication channels maintained between the CIA and Russian agencies, including the FSB and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). Ratcliffe’s direct line to Bortnikov operates alongside other backchannel contacts established by figures close to former President Donald Trump, such as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have engaged with senior Russian advisers. Some officials expressed hope that Ratcliffe’s message, coming from the CIA director himself, might carry greater weight with President Vladimir Putin, a former intelligence officer.

The backdrop to Ratcliffe’s message is a war that has defied early expectations held by some in the Trump administration, who believed Russia’s larger population and nuclear arsenal would quickly tip the balance in Moscow’s favor. Instead, Russian forces have suffered heavy casualties and stalled offensives, particularly in the eastern Donbas region. Ratcliffe reportedly emphasized that Russian troop losses remain severe and cited the limited territorial gains Russia has made—about 1 percent of Ukraine’s territory since he assumed office—crediting Ukraine’s effective use of drone technology.

Prior to his meeting with Russian officials, Ratcliffe engaged with Ukrainian counterparts to affirm that his discussions would not involve concessions on Ukraine’s behalf. Since President Trump’s return to office, U.S. military aid to Ukraine has diminished, prompting Kyiv to rely more on European partners. Meanwhile, the CIA continues to maintain close intelligence cooperation with Ukraine that has spanned over a decade.

European diplomats have indicated a possible window for peace talks during the upcoming winter months, noting the drawdown of Russian offensives and Ukraine’s ability to sustain pressure on Russia’s military capabilities. Some European officials have advocated for a U.S. national security figure to join efforts to push Russia toward negotiations, believing a tough message like Ratcliffe’s could be effective. Ukrainian officials reportedly view Ratcliffe’s role more favorably compared to other intermediaries perceived as too close to Moscow.

Ratcliffe’s Moscow trip follows a pattern of direct, sometimes unprecedented engagements by Trump administration officials with adversaries, including his visits to Venezuela and Cuba earlier this year to deliver candid assessments aimed at prompting political and economic reforms.

Direct meetings between U.S. and Russian intelligence leaders have occurred sporadically in recent years. In November 2021, then-CIA Director William J. Burns met in Moscow with Bortnikov and other senior officials to warn against a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The following year, Burns met with Russian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergei Naryshkin in Ankara, Turkey, discussing alleged Russian plans to use nuclear devices to halt Ukrainian counteroffensives. Although that meeting raised hopes for a sustained dialogue channel, no further face-to-face meetings occurred, though communications continued through other means.

Ratcliffe’s visit underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to manage intelligence contacts with Russia amid one of Europe’s most significant conflicts in decades, seeking avenues to reduce tensions and encourage negotiations despite the deep divisions and ongoing hostilities on the ground.