Vladimir Putin canceled the meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe after learning about the purpose of his trip to Moscow, which included a call to end the war with Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has decided to cancel the meeting with John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, which was scheduled for August 25, after learning about the content of the discussions he had with Russian officials.

According to a source close to the Kremlin, Ratcliffe emphasized the deterioration of Russia's military and economic situation and urged for a swift end to the conflict with Ukraine. Although the meeting with Putin had initially been confirmed, the Kremlin decided to cancel it after information about Ratcliffe's meetings with Sergei Naryshkin and Alexander Bortnikov came to the attention of the Russian leader.

Western media speculated about the purpose of the visit, including proposals for peace negotiations and warnings related to attacks on NATO countries. Ratcliffe also suggested a meeting between the leaders of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, but the Kremlin stated that such a meeting would only be possible for finalizing existing agreements.

This visit was the first by a CIA director to Russia since the beginning of the large-scale war.