Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and CIA Director John Ratcliffe met informally at Shannon Airport in Ireland, according to two anonymous sources. The exchange — described as occurring while planes were refuelled — happened as Zelenskiy travelled to the UN in New York and Ratcliffe returned from talks with Egypt’s Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi. The meeting follows Ratcliffe’s recent trip to Moscow to meet Russian intelligence officials; neither he nor the CIA has disclosed details.
Zelenskiy Meets US CIA Director John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport During UN Trip
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a joint news conference with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law (not pictured), amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 6, 2026. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/ File Photo
UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held an informal meeting with US Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
One source said the encounter occurred on Monday. Another source described the exchange as informal, saying the two men spoke while their planes were being refuelled, but did not specify the date. Both sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because the matter is sensitive and declined to provide details of the discussion.
Timing and Context
The meeting took place while Zelenskiy was travelling to New York to attend the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders. One source said Ratcliffe was returning from a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi.
Ratcliffe’s contact with Zelenskiy came fewer than four weeks after the CIA director flew to Moscow to meet with senior Russian intelligence officials. Neither Ratcliffe nor the CIA have publicly disclosed what was discussed in Moscow. A source who confirmed the Shannon meeting to Reuters said Ratcliffe had gone to Moscow to discuss Ukraine but declined to elaborate.
Reporting and Analysis
The New York Times reported last month that Ratcliffe used his Moscow trip to offer a bleak assessment of Russia’s campaign in Ukraine and to urge Russian leaders to consider a negotiated settlement before their position weakened. Reuters has not independently verified those details.
(Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Alistair Bell)
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