The mystery surrounding the C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, which landed at Vnukovo airport in Moscow on August 25, was resolved in the most official manner, as it became known that the Director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, arrived in Russia for official visits, as revealed by senior CBS News journalist Jennifer Jacobs on her Facebook page.
«CIA Director John Ratcliffe departed today for Russia aboard a C-17 for meetings in Moscow, sources said», wrote the journalist.
At the same time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, and the envoy of the Vatican discussed, earlier, prospects for peace in Ukraine during talks they held in Moscow.
In parallel, we recall that diplomatic background processes are underway between Moscow and Washington, ahead of a potential visit by Trump's envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, to the Kremlin.
In the wake of these developments, and with the reviving of discussions on Ukraine being placed more persistently on the agenda, even a direct meeting between Putin and Trump is by no means improbable.
After all, the APEC leaders' summit is scheduled for November 18 and 19, 2026 in Shenzhen, China, and Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov emphasized pointedly that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, should they find themselves at the same summit, «will inevitably meet and talk».
Harbinger of a major Putin-Trump conference on Ukraine
On the morning of August 25, an American military transport Boeing C-17 Globemaster III landed at Vnukovo airport in Moscow.
According to information published on the Flightradar website, the aircraft, with registration number RCH4555, departed from Riga at approximately 8:50 a.m. Moscow time and arrived in Moscow at 10:04 a.m.
Two days earlier, the aircraft had landed in Latvia, flying directly from Andrews Air Force Base, located near Camp Springs, in Washington.
Among other aircraft, the presidential plane, Air Force One, is stationed at this specific airbase.
Previously, Major General of the Air Force Sergei Lipovoy stated that the arrival of the American airplane at Vnukovo could indicate preparations for talks between the Presidents of Russia and the US, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
According to him, preparations for talks constitute the primary interpretation for the aircraft's arrival.
What happened with the Globemaster III: The stop in Riga and the refueling version
Vladimir Popov also gave his own explanation for the aircraft's stay in Riga.
He argued that the C-17 was likely refueled there, in order to possess sufficient fuel and operational flexibility for its return to an intermediate NATO airport following the mission to Russia.
Yet this version also represents an estimate by Popov and not an official announcement from the US Air Force.
The choice of Latvia is nevertheless interesting.
Riga is located within NATO and offers a secure Western hub prior to the entry of an American military aircraft into Russian airspace.
The new US-Ukraine plan to end the war and the involvement of the Vatican
Meanwhile, Ukraine, in cooperation with the US and Europe, formulated a new plan to end the conflict with Russia.
As British newspaper The Times claims, this plan may be presented to the Russian side during the visit to Moscow by the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, in cooperation with the United States and European states, drafted a new plan to end the conflict with Russia, as reported by British newspaper The Times.
According to the report, the plan provides for a ceasefire, mutual withdrawal of Ukrainian and Russian troops from the front line, and the creation of an intermediate buffer zone. It is also known that Kyiv worked on the plan together with the special envoys of US President Donald Trump.
«The Americans have certain original ideas...»
«The American side has a few more ideas. They want to find the right moment to share them. We are waiting for them», stated Zelensky to The Times.
On August 23, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kiril Budanov reported that Kyiv intends in the immediate future to «revitalize a bit» the topic of peace negotiations.
A few days earlier, Budanov's deputy, Sergiy Kyslytsya, stated that Ukraine is ready for negotiations with the US and Russia and conveyed its proposals to the American side.
According to Kyslytsya, these proposals do not provide for «surrender of territories».
«Ceasefire and free economic zone»
The newspaper The Times revealed the three fundamental pillars of the new peace settlement plan.
«The first and most important point is the ceasefire.
The second point provides for the creation of a so-called free economic zone.
According to the US proposal, Ukrainian and Russian troops must withdraw to an equal distance from the designated section of the front line.
Following this, between the positions of the two sides, a buffer zone will be created, which will possess special economic status and will be subject to a form of administration by a third party», the article states.
According to the Ukrainian President, precisely this point remains pending, as so far it has not been possible to establish the governance mechanism for this area.
They want EU and NATO entry into the talks through the back door
«The third key point in Kyiv's new proposal for peace concerns the role of the European Union and NATO, security guarantees for Ukraine, and the obligations that Kyiv is prepared to assume within the framework of a potential agreement», reports The Times.
Zelensky mentioned that the new package of proposals has already received a positive response from participants in the consultations.
The Times notes that the new diplomatic proposals emerged simultaneously with the visit to Moscow by the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, whose mission is officially dedicated to dialogue and peace.
On August 25, Gallagher is expected to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The following day, a meeting is scheduled with Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov.
Therefore, The Times speculates that Gallagher may convey the details of the new Ukrainian proposal to the Russian side.
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