Retkliff may take over negotiations between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine from Witkoff

Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe could play a significantly larger role in negotiations between the United States, Russia and Ukraine. Washington is considering reducing the involvement of special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have so far handled contacts with Moscow and Kyiv.

Ratcliffe will take on most of this work while maintaining contacts with the intelligence services of both countries, — sources told the Financial Times.

This is reported by the Financial Times, citing its own sources. At the same time, the White House and the CIA declined to comment on possible changes, and President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision.

Discussions of potential reshuffles, according to the publication, began as early as February. This followed the failure of previous attempts to reach a peace agreement, when the Trump administration shifted its main focus to the war in Iran.

Steve Witkoff, who is described as a close friend of Trump, will most likely retain the status of special envoy for peace missions. He will continue working on Middle East issues and will also remain partly involved in the Ukrainian direction.

At the same time, a struggle for influence and control over key areas of work continues between Witkoff and Ratcliffe. In Ukraine they believe that Witkoff did not put enough pressure on Vladimir Putin. In Moscow, by contrast, he is blamed for the failure of the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska.

According to Financial Times sources, the Kremlin does not rule out that the US may apply a new approach to the negotiations.

Earlier we wrote:

• The US announced “substantial progress” in negotiations to end the war
• Putin refuses to compromise: the Kremlin demands four regions and Ukraine’s renunciation of NATO
• The visit of Trump’s special envoys to Kyiv and Moscow is in doubt due to security concerns
• The CIA chief proposed holding a trilateral summit of Trump, Zelensky and Putin
• The CIA chief arrived in Moscow amid concerns about mobilization in Russia