CIA Director William Burns makes his 'final' visit to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on December 21 that he had met with CIA Director William Burns in Ukraine.

President Zelensky said he had met with CIA Director William Burns several times throughout the nearly three-year-long Russia-Ukraine conflict, but the details of their meetings have not been disclosed, according to AFP.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) shakes hands with CIA Director Bill Burns in Kyiv, in a photo taken and released by the Presidential Press Office of Ukraine on December 21, 2024.

Zelensky posted a photo of himself shaking hands with Burns in front of the Ukrainian coat of arms on December 21. He didn't specify when the meeting took place, but confirmed it would be their last meeting before Burns leaves his position as CIA Director.

"Bill Burns made his last visit to Ukraine as CIA Director. He and I had many meetings during this war, and I am very grateful for his support," Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"Normally, such meetings are not publicized, and all our meetings—in Ukraine, other European countries, the US, and elsewhere in the world —are held without official announcement," Zelensky added.

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The most recent confirmed meeting between Zelensky and Burns was in mid-2023. At that time, US officials said that Burns had made a secret trip to Ukraine.

Zelensky revealed this information as Burns prepared to leave his position as CIA Director, following President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of his own candidate.

The meeting took place at a crucial time in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a month before Trump's inauguration. Trump had pledged to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within hours, raising concerns that Kyiv might be forced to accept peace on terms favorable to Moscow, according to AFP.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/giam-doc-cia-william-burns-tham-ukraine-lan-cuoi-185241222081208525.htm