CIA director holds unannounced Moscow talks with Russian intelligence amid Ukraine strikes
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CIA director holds unannounced Moscow talks with Russian intelligence amid Ukraine strikes
CIA chief makes unannounced Moscow visit amid Ukraine drone strikes on Russian logistics hubs
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CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow on Tuesday, holding talks with Russian intelligence officials in the first known trip by a U.S. spy chief to Russia since 2021. The Kremlin confirmed the meeting but stated that Ratcliffe did not meet President Vladimir Putin, though Putin was briefed on the discussions afterward.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that the talks were between intelligence services and declined to specify the topics discussed. He described U.S.-Russia relations as in a "deep crisis" but called such contacts a "positive phenomenon," noting they often continue even during difficult periods.
President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of the visit, calling it a "semi-routine" mission in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck. Trump added that Washington "would like to see the war in Ukraine end" but did not disclose further details about the discussions.
The visit occurred amid heightened tensions, including Ukraine’s expanding long-range strikes inside Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had struck 16 targets in Russia the previous day, including oil facilities, airfields, and a missile unit. A Wildberries logistics center in Tambov region and the Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod were among the reported targets.
Ahead of Ratcliffe’s trip, the U.S. asked Ukraine to suspend strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg while the delegation was in Russia, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter. Kyiv was reportedly informed of a senior U.S. delegation’s travel but not initially told Ratcliffe would be part of it.
Separately, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced it had thwarted an FSB plot to assassinate the head of a defense company in Kyiv. The suspected assassin, a 63-year-old pensioner from Luhansk Oblast, was arrested in Poland while attempting to flee to Russia. The SBU said the suspect had assembled a bomb containing 1 kg of hexogen and placed it under the target’s car.
The CIA and White House have not publicly detailed the purpose of Ratcliffe’s visit. The last comparable meeting between a CIA director and Russian officials took place in November 2021, when Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, met with Putin.
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🇷🇺🇺🇸⚡️ — There were no direct contacts between President Putin and the Director of the CIA. Communication with the Director of the CIA was conducted through intelligence agencies, and Putin was informed about the meeting and the results of the negotiations – Peskov. @Intelslava
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Kremlin says CIA chief met Russian counterparts, not Putin, in Moscow The Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe held talks with Russian intelligence officials during his visit to Moscow on Tuesday but did not meet President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was also too early to say whether such contacts between the two countries intelligence agencies could help improve US-Russia relations. 👉 Read more:
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JUST IN - President Trump says CIA director Ratcliffe was on semi routine mission in Moscow, Russia @insiderpaper
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🔴 BREAKINGCIA Director John Ratcliffe Visits Moscow for TalksCIA Director John Ratcliffe held talks with Russian intelligence services in Moscow, marking the first visit by a US spy chief to the capital since 2021. The meeting occurred amid escalating war in Ukraine and stalled peace efforts between the US and Iran.📰 #Russia #Diplomacy #Geopolitics #GeoWire
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Kremlin: CIA Chief Spoke to Russian Intel, Not Putin CIA Director John Ratcliffe spoke with Russian intelligence personnel during a Tuesday visit to Moscow, according to Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Peskov emphasized that Ratcliffe did not meet with President Vladimir Putin, though Putin was briefed on the results of the talks. While describing US-Russia relations as being in a deep crisis, Peskov stated […]
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