CIA director’s visit to Moscow signals real concern in intelligence circles Putin might widen war

CIA director John Ratcliffe went to Moscow this week for an almost-secret, face-to-face meeting with his top Russian counterparts

An unannounced but highly visible flight to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe aboard a U.S. Air Force transport plane this week has ignited a fierce debate over Vladimir Putin’s next military move. With Russia’s volunteer recruitment drying up and its economy straining under the weight of 1.4 million casualties, in

CIA Director John Ratcliffe secretly traveled to Moscow this week to warn Vladimir Putin against attacking NATO, The Wall Street Journal and Politico reported. The warning reportedly focused on the Baltic states, amid US intelligence concerns that Russia could seek to “test NATO’s resolve” with a limited attack.

Ratcliffe also discussed Iran while in Russia, telling intelligence officials there that additional sanctions would be implemented by the US if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened.

John Ratcliffe also discussed the war with Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz doesn't reopen to shipping traffic

Trump says Ratcliffe's trip was "sort of semi-routine." An expert on Russia's security services says it does not "happen every year."

President denies visit was to gain support for Iran sanctions or due to fears that Putin plans to ‘test Nato resolve’ US politics live – latest updates Donald Trump has downplayed a visit to Moscow by the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, as “semi-routine” after he turned up in the Russian capital unannounced, triggering

Video captured a C-17 Globemaster landing at Moscow's Vnukovo airport as CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly met with Russian intelligence officials.

The Kremlin said Wednesday that CIA Director John Ratcliffe held talks in Moscow with his intelligence counterparts, a rare and secretive visit at a time when relations with Washington remain strained over Russia's war in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has commented for the first time on CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s August 25 trip to Moscow. “He’s there on … you know, very sort of semi-routine [business],” Trump said in an interview with radio host Glenn Beck. “I hate to disappoint people. We would like to see the war in Ukraine end.”

John Ratcliffe is first US spy chief to travel to Russia since 2022 invasion of Ukraine

CIA director John Ratcliffe held talks with Russian intelligence services in Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed Wednesday, the first know visit by a US spy chief to the Russian capital since 2021. It is not known what Ratcliffe discussed with his Russian counterparts, but the talks come as ‌the war in Ukraine is escalating

John Ratcliffe traveled to the Russian capital on Tuesday in a rare and unannounce visit. The CIA declined to comment, and the White House did not comment immediately.

John Ratcliffe traveled to the Russian capital on Tuesday in a rare and unannounce visit. The CIA declined to comment, and the White House did not comment immediately.

The Kremlin says CIA Director John Ratcliffe held talks in Moscow with his intelligence counterparts, a rare and secretive visit at a time when relations with Washington remain strained over Russia’s war in Ukraine

The Kremlin says CIA Director John Ratcliffe held talks in Moscow with his intelligence counterparts, a rare and secretive visit at a time when relations with Washington remain strained over Russia’s war in Ukraine

The Kremlin says the CIA director held talks in Moscow with his intelligence counterparts  AP News

The Russian government said that spy chief John Ratcliffe held talks with counterparts, but not President Vladimir Putin, on his Moscow trip.

A Kremlin spokesman said John Ratcliffe did not meet with Vladimir Putin and that it was "premature" to say whether the trip would affect fraught U.S.-Russia relations.

Ukraine resumed drone attacks on Moscow overnight into Wednesday morning, the city's Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said.

Russian President informed about CIA chief's visit to Moscow: Kremlin after report on US mystery plane

Putin did not meet CIA director during Russia visit, Kremlin says  The Kyiv Independent

State of the Union: The purpose of the trip remains unclear.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe was in Moscow Tuesday for unannounced talks with the Kremlin, in the first such visit by a US spy chief since 2021.

US tells Ukraine to halt air strikes on Russian capital as John Ratcliffe flies in on military plane

John Ratcliffe flew to Moscow in a military cargo plane from Riga, Latvia. It is not clear whom he met or what the purpose of his trip was.