CIA director’s secretive visit to Moscow stirs mystery

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TASS quotes Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on contacts between Moscow and CIA Director John Ratcliffe:

- The President Putin has been briefed on the results of the meetings between Russian intelligence agencies and CIA Director John Ratcliffe: "Of course, President Putin is immediately briefed on all of this."

- There were no direct contacts between Putin and Ratcliffe: "I can tell you that there were no meetings with the Russian president. That is all I can tell you on this matter."

- Contacts with the CIA director took place through the intelligence services: "I can only tell you that contacts took place through the intelligence services."

- The Kremlin did not specify whether Ratcliffe’s contacts with Russian intelligence services concerned Ukraine, Iran, or any other issues: "I have nothing to add on this subject beyond what I have already said."

- It is premature to speak of any impact that the CIA director’s contacts with Russian intelligence services might have on resolving the crisis in relations between Moscow and Washington: "It is still too early to say to what extent this will affect the overall process of bringing our bilateral relations out of the deepest crisis they are currently in."

- Contacts between intelligence agencies are, in and of themselves, "a positive development, a positive process": "These contacts often continue even during the most difficult moments in bilateral relations. Our president, by the way, has also spoken about this."

- Currently, no contacts are planned between Moscow and Washington at the presidential administrative level: "At this point, I cannot tell you about any further agreements on such contacts. No contacts are currently planned through the Kremlin."

CIA Director John Ratcliffe
Photo: ZUMA Press

WSJ: CIA Director John Ratcliffe makes surprise trip to Moscow

Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe made a surprise visit to Moscow on Tuesday, U.S. officials said, his first publicly known trip to the Russian capital, The Wall Street Journal notes.

It came as the U.S. struggles to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Iran war, although the reason for the visit wasn’t immediately clear. The U.S. has collected intelligence showing Russia’s early preparations for a possible military mobilization in Ukraine and plans for testing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s resolve.

Analysts said Ratcliffe could say, ‘We know what you are thinking about doing, and you better not,’” said Beth Sanner, a former U.S. deputy director of national intelligence for mission integration. “It could also be about the Iran ceasefire and putting someone else in the discussion,” she said, adding Ratcliffe might also touch upon the Kremlin’s support for Iran following a new U.S. sanctions campaign against the regime.

The U.S. and Russia have maintained a working relationship during the Ukraine and Iran wars. President Trump hosted Putin in Alaska for a Ukraine-focused summit and the Trump administration has secured the release of three Russia-held hostages.

The CIA declined to comment. CBS News earlier reported the visit.

During the Biden administration, then-CIA Director William Burns, who had earlier served as ambassador to Russia, made at least one trip to Moscow in November 2021. He warned Putin against invading Ukraine, citing intelligence the U.S. collected about his plans for an all-out assault.

Ratcliffe, one of Trump’s closest aides, was the latest U.S. official to make the trip to Moscow following several visits by Steve Witkoff, the president’s envoy for Ukraine-Russia peace talks. Jared Kushner and Josh Gruenbaum joined Witkoff for one trip to the capital and meeting with Putin.

In March 2025, shortly after Trump’s inauguration, Ratcliffe and Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, held their first phone call, where they “discussed issues of cooperation… in areas of mutual interest.”

The two also promised to keep in regular contact to maintain stability in the two countries and reduce confrontation between them.

The Kremlin has valued continuing ties between the intelligence services of Russia and the U.S., even while political ties have largely broken down around Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. support for Kyiv and successive layers of sanctions on Russia.

A U.S. military transport plane approaches Moscow on Tuesday, in a screenshot from a social media video
Photo: Reuters

WP: CIA director’s secretive visit to Moscow stirs mystery

U.S. officials had not announced Ratcliffe’s trip, but publicly available flight tracking data captured the movement of a U.S. government transport plane from Joint Base Andrews on the outskirts of Washington to the Russian capital. The aircraft departed Moscow about eight and a half hours later, tracking data from Flightradar24 shows, The Washington Post writes.

Spokespeople for the CIA, the Pentagon and the U.S. Air Force declined to comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Those familiar with Ratcliffe’s trip to Russia spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the visit.

It was not immediately clear what the trip’s purpose was or whether any other senior U.S. officials were part of the U.S. delegation.

Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow coincided with a fraught period in U.S.-Russia relations. Russia and Ukraine have stepped-up long-range strikes on each other’s territory with no end to the war in sight. Some analysts have warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin might escalate with military probes against Europe’s Baltic countries or other NATO members, which could precipitate a new crisis.

The two superpowers are on opposite sides of the Iran conflict. Iran is Moscow’s most important ally in the Middle East, and Russia has provided Tehran targeting intelligence on the location of U.S. military assets in the region. The U.S. Treasury on Monday unveiled a sweeping campaign of sanctions and diplomatic pressure meant to asphyxiate Iran’s economy.

On Wednesday morning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing that Ratcliffe did not meet with Putin and that the contacts were conducted “through intelligence-service channels.” He did not expand on the purpose of the visit.

When asked whether Moscow believes the visit by such a high-ranking U.S. official might have a positive impact on Russian-American relations, Peskov said it would be “premature” to draw such a conclusion.

Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow came as Ukrainian long-range strikes into Russia, including the capital, have targeted energy infrastructure and online retail facilities, unnerving the population. Russia also has stepped up drone and missile strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, and elsewhere, exploiting shortfalls of air-defense resources.

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