US spy chief Ratcliffe preparing for bigger role in Russia, Ukraine talks, FT reports

FILE PHOTO: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe attends a U.S. House Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper/File Photo

Sept 9 (Reuters) - ⁠U.S. CIA Director ⁠John Ratcliffe is ‌preparing to take a bigger role in Washington's negotiations ​with Russia and ⁠Ukraine, U.S. ⁠officials told their European ⁠counterparts, ‌the Financial Times reported ⁠on Wednesday.

CIA spokesperson Liz Lyons ​denied ‌the report, calling it "false" ⁠in ​a post on X.

The Financial Times, ⁠citing people familiar with ​the matter, said the White House is ⁠considering scaling back the involvement of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and ​Jared ⁠Kushner in the Ukraine ​peace effort.

(Reporting ‌by Anusha Shah ​in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese)