The CIA objected to the claim that John Ratcliffe would take on a more important role in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. CIA Press Secretary Liz Lyons said on X that a Financial Times report was false.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, also criticized the Financial Times report. Dmitriev alleged that the newspaper was publishing “lies and fake news” in an effort to disrupt dialogue between the United States and Russia and weaken the positions of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The Financial Times’ claim about Ratcliffe’s role
The Financial Times wrote that Ratcliffe was expected to take on a more active role in “shuttle diplomacy” between Moscow and Kyiv. The newspaper also claimed that the CIA director would continue contacts with representatives of intelligence services as part of the process.

Statements on the Moscow visit
Ratcliffe made a surprise visit to Moscow on August 25 and held talks with Russian intelligence officials.
Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, said after the visit that Ratcliffe had not met with Vladimir Putin. Peskov said the contacts were conducted through intelligence channels.
Yury Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, also denied reports that Putin had been unwilling to meet with the CIA director, who had traveled to Moscow.