CIA director John Ratcliffe is preparing to take a larger role in US efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, as the Trump administration looks to revive a diplomatic process that has stalled without a breakthrough.The Financial Times, citing five people familiar with the plans, reported that the White House is considering reducing the role of US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have been central to the negotiations. The possible change has not been finalised by President Donald Trump.Ratcliffe’s potential involvement would bring the head of the US intelligence agency more directly into the peace effort. He could take part in shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Kyiv and maintain contacts with Russian and Ukrainian intelligence officials. Ratcliffe recently travelled to Moscow and met Russian intelligence officials, giving him a separate channel for discussions with the Kremlin.The move comes as the US-backed negotiations have struggled to make progress. The biggest obstacle remains the gap between Moscow and Kyiv over the terms of a potential settlement, particularly territory and security guarantees.Russia has continued to demand territorial concessions from Ukraine, including areas of the Donbas that Moscow claims. Ukraine has rejected giving up territory as part of a peace agreement. Kyiv has also sought strong security guarantees to prevent another Russian attack after any ceasefire or settlement.Moscow, meanwhile, has shown little indication that it is prepared to abandon its core demands. Recent discussions have therefore failed to narrow the differences between the two sides. The US negotiating effort has also faced criticism over the limited progress made during successive meetings.The latest attempt to revive the process involved Witkoff and Kushner travelling to Moscow and Kyiv for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. While the talks kept diplomatic channels open, they did not result in a major breakthrough.The process has also been affected by Washington’s shifting priorities, with the Trump administration’s attention increasingly focused on other international crises. That has made it harder to maintain sustained diplomatic pressure on Moscow and Kyiv.Russia has said it remains open to resuming US-mediated talks, but the fundamental disagreements remain unresolved. The Kremlin has continued to insist that the underlying causes of the war must be addressed, while Ukraine wants a settlement that preserves its territorial integrity and provides long-term security.Against this backdrop, Ratcliffe’s possible expanded role could signal an attempt by Washington to bring a different approach to the negotiations. His intelligence background and contacts with Russian officials could give the US another channel to assess Moscow’s position and explore whether there is room for movement.
