AI-written summary of reporting by The Jerusalem Post. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US CIA Director John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland, two people familiar with the matter said. One source said the meeting took place on Monday, while the other said the pair spoke informally while their planes were being refueled and did not specify a date.

The Jerusalem Post

Zelensky met CIA Director Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport, sources say

Zelensky met CIA Director Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport, sources say
Sep 21, 2026, 7:35 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US CIA Director John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland, two people familiar with the matter said. One source said the meeting took place on Monday, while the other said the pair spoke informally while their planes were being refueled and did not specify a date.

Context

The meeting happened as Zelensky was traveling to New York to take part in the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, according to the sources. Ratcliffe was on his way back from meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, one source said.

Ratcliffe's meeting with Zelensky comes less than a month after the CIA chief traveled to Moscow to meet with Russia's top intelligence officials.

Neither Ratcliffe nor the CIA has publicly disclosed what was discussed in Moscow. One of the sources, who confirmed the Zelensky meeting to Reuters, said Ratcliffe had been in Moscow to discuss Ukraine, but declined to elaborate.

The New York Times reported that Ratcliffe used his trip to share his bleak assessment of the state of the Russian war against Ukraine and to urge the Russians to cut a deal before their position weakens.

All Perspectives
People familiar with the matter: They said Zelensky met Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland. One source said the meeting took place on Monday; the other said the pair spoke informally while their planes were being refueled, without specifying a date. Both sources, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, declined to disclose details of their conversation.
The New York Times: The newspaper reported that Ratcliffe used his trip to Moscow to share his bleak assessment of the state of the Russian war against Ukraine and to urge the Russians to cut a deal before their position weakens.
Position not represented in the source reporting: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the CIA.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not state what Zelensky and Ratcliffe discussed.
  • The source does not state the calendar date of the meeting described by one source as taking place on Monday.
  • The source does not reconcile the two source accounts of the meeting's timing and nature.
  • The source does not state whether Zelensky or Ratcliffe commented on the meeting.
  • The source does not state what Ratcliffe discussed with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
  • The source does not name the people familiar with the matter.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. The Jerusalem Post — original

Read the original at The Jerusalem Post

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