Kathrine Frich
The potential change follows eight trips to Moscow and one to Kyiv
High-stakes international diplomacy often relies on trusted backchannels to keep conversations moving when formal talks stall.
Behind closed doors, world leaders constantly re-evaluate who holds the authority to speak for them on the global stage.
Now, a major shift in strategy may be taking shape inside the White House.
Shifting diplomatic gears
Washington is considering stepping back special envoy Steve Witkoff and representative Jared Kushner from peace negotiations, according to the Financial Times.
Five people familiar with the plans stated that American officials may hand the lead diplomatic role to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
American officials have already informed European partners that Ratcliffe is preparing to handle shuttle diplomacy efforts. He would rely on existing channels with both Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services.
Neither the White House nor the CIA commented on the plan. Sources noted that President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision.
Stalled Moscow talks
The potential change follows eight trips to Moscow and one to Kyiv by Witkoff, which produced no major breakthrough according to United24Media.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin previously praised the envoys during a meeting. Putin stated, “Here, of course, the quality of mediation, trust in those involved in it, is very important. I want to tell you that it is comfortable for us to work with you, and, of course, the level of trust in the course of this work on our part is quite high.”
Even so, frustration grew on both sides. Ukrainian officials felt Witkoff did not push Moscow hard enough, while Russian officials blamed him for a lack of progress at a previous summit in Alaska.
A three-hour meeting in Moscow between Putin, Witkoff, and Kushner ended without a deal, as reported by Bloomberg.
A new strategy
Ratcliffe made an unannounced trip to Moscow in late August. That visit marked the first time a CIA chief has traveled to Russia since late 2021.
Ratcliffe is a former federal prosecutor and Texas congressman who previously served as Director of National Intelligence. He made history as the first person to hold both top intelligence positions after becoming CIA Director.
Meanwhile, Moscow has shown openness to a fresh diplomatic approach. Still, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that it remains premature to set dates for formal three-party talks.
Sources: Financial Times, Bloomberg, United24 Media
