A possible Trump Putin Zelenskyy summit is now under discussion following a secret visit to Moscow by the head of the CIA. Sources say the intelligence chief raised the idea of a three way meeting during private talks aimed at reviving stalled peace efforts in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The trip marked the first time the intelligence chief became personally involved in this level of diplomatic outreach. He met with top Russian intelligence officials during the visit, seeking to understand whether they could help convince the Russian president to return to serious negotiations.
According to people familiar with the discussions, the intelligence chief came away believing that at least one senior Russian official could play a constructive role in restarting talks. That assessment has added some cautious optimism to an otherwise difficult diplomatic process that has stalled for months.
Ukrainian officials were briefed on the outcome of the Moscow visit shortly after it concluded. While they welcomed the renewed diplomatic effort, many remain deeply skeptical about Russia’s true intentions. Ukrainian sources say they have intelligence suggesting Russian forces may be preparing for a new offensive rather than a genuine push toward peace.
This is not the first attempt to arrange a meeting between the two wartime leaders. Earlier proposals for direct talks have repeatedly stalled, with each side placing conditions the other found difficult to accept. The Ukrainian president has said he is willing to meet, but has firmly rejected holding any talks inside the Russian capital.
Tensions over meeting locations have become a recurring obstacle. The Ukrainian leader has argued that traveling to Moscow while his country remains under daily attack would send the wrong message. He has instead proposed hosting any meeting in Kyiv, an offer that has not yet been accepted by the Russian side.
The American president has pushed hard for a face to face meeting between the two leaders for months. Following a summit with the Russian president over the summer, expectations grew that a bilateral or even trilateral meeting might follow soon after. Progress since then has moved slower than many hoped.
Russian officials have offered mixed signals about their willingness to negotiate. While some statements suggest openness to talks, other comments from senior Russian figures have downplayed the chances of an imminent meeting, citing unresolved disagreements over the terms of any potential deal.
Diplomats close to the process say the renewed push reflects growing urgency to find a path toward ending the conflict. Continued fighting has caused heavy damage on both sides, and pressure has grown internationally for a durable resolution rather than another temporary pause in hostilities.
The proposal for a three way meeting still faces major hurdles before it could become reality. Questions remain over where such a meeting would take place, what topics it would cover, and whether both sides are truly ready to make the concessions needed for a lasting agreement.
For now, officials on all sides describe the situation as fluid, with more talks expected in the coming weeks. Whether this latest diplomatic push finally leads to a meeting between the two wartime leaders remains uncertain, but it marks one of the more serious efforts in recent months to restart a stalled peace process.
