Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed CIA Director Bill Burns’ final visit to Ukraine before stepping down from his role as the United States transitions to President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. In a post on Telegram, Zelensky expressed gratitude for Burns’ support throughout the ongoing war with Russia.
“Bill Burns paid his last visit to Ukraine as CIA Director,” Zelensky wrote. “He and I have had many meetings during this war, and I am grateful for his help.”
Zelensky highlighted the typically covert nature of their interactions, noting, “Usually, such meetings are not publicly reported, and all our meetings — in Ukraine, in other European countries, in America, and in other parts of the world — were held without official information.”
The announcement comes as the war reaches a critical juncture, with the impending change in U.S. leadership raising concerns about future support for Ukraine. Burns’ tenure as CIA Director has been marked by close collaboration with Kyiv, including a secret visit in mid-2023, according to U.S. officials.
Zelensky shared a photograph of himself shaking hands with Burns against the backdrop of Ukraine’s state crest but did not specify when their most recent meeting took place. He described the encounter as their last, just weeks before Trump assumes office.
President-elect Trump has pledged to bring the war to a swift conclusion, sparking fears in Kyiv of a peace agreement potentially skewed in Moscow’s favor. Burns’ departure signals the end of an era of unwavering U.S. intelligence support, leaving Ukraine to navigate an uncertain diplomatic and military future.
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