English-language coverage of cia news from the Netherlands.
Russia has extremely low expectations for the upcoming visit of US envoys Witkoff and Kushner, while the Kyiv leg of the trip is at risk due to Russian intimidation. The diplomatic push follows CIA Director Ratcliffe's secret Moscow visit, a G20 meeting between US and Russian finance ministers, and a stalled trilateral summit proposal.
Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to visit Moscow before Kyiv as part of an intensified US diplomatic push following CIA Director Ratcliffe's secret trip, a G20 meeting between finance ministers, and a proposed trilateral summit. A bipartisan sanctions bill awaits White House approval.
The US asked Ukraine to halt strikes on Moscow and St Petersburg while CIA Director Ratcliffe visited Moscow to warn against Russian mobilisation. Ukraine resumed strikes after the visit, hitting a major oil refinery. Russia announced plans to conscript 600,000 troops, and the US later hosted Russia's finance minister at G20 talks, angering Europe.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe's secret Moscow trip included proposing a trilateral summit between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin, warning against Baltic escalation, and urging Russia to reduce support for Iran. Trump dismissed concerns about NATO, while US senators push for new sanctions.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Russia against escalating tensions with NATO's Baltic states during a visit to Moscow. Meanwhile, US Senator Blumenthal says a bipartisan sanctions bill could pass in September, pending White House support.
CIA Director Ratcliffe visited Moscow amid US intelligence of possible Russian mobilisation; Washington asked Ukraine to pause strikes on Moscow and St Petersburg. Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike killed a mother and daughter in Chernihiv, and a Moscow court upheld a 15-year sentence for a Ukrainian pensioner.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow on 25 August, the first by a CIA chief since 2021. The US asked Ukraine to refrain from striking Moscow and St Petersburg during the trip. Reports indicate the visit was prompted by US intelligence that Russia may be preparing a new military mobilisation.
The US asked Ukraine not to strike Moscow and St Petersburg while CIA Director John Ratcliffe visits Russia — his first trip to Moscow and the highest-level Trump administration visit since January. Ukrainian sources confirmed the narrowed request, raising questions about US-Ukraine relations and the direction of diplomatic efforts.