CIA Director Ratcliffe reportedly in Moscow for talks, Kremlin denies plans
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe is reportedly in Moscow for meetings, according to US media citing unnamed sources. The Kremlin said no talks with US envoys are planned this week, while Washington reportedly asked Ukraine to suspend strikes until the delegation leaves.
Key Facts
- CBS News reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe was in Moscow on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no talks between Moscow and US envoys are planned this week.
- A US military C-17 aircraft flew from Riga to Moscow on Tuesday morning, landing at 07:04 GMT, according to Flightradar24.
- Axios reported that Washington informed Ukraine of the delegation's travel and asked it to suspend strikes until it leaves.
- If confirmed, the visit would be the first by a CIA director to Moscow since William Burns in 2021.
Reported Visit
CBS News, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation, reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe was in Moscow on Tuesday. Axios separately confirmed the visit, quoting a US official, describing it as the highest-level visit by a Trump administration official to Russia since January. The outlets did not say whom Ratcliffe was meeting or what the talks were expected to cover. The CIA declined to comment, according to Reuters.
Kremlin Denial
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that no talks between Moscow and US envoys are planned this week. Asked about reports that a US military plane landed in Moscow on Tuesday morning, Peskov said he had no such information. The denial came as Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations remain stalled.
Flight Data
Flightradar24 data showed a US military C-17 travelling from the US to Latvia and then on to Moscow, departing Riga airport at 05:50 GMT and landing at nearly 07:04 GMT. Later, the plane believed to be carrying Ratcliffe departed Moscow, according to the flight-tracking website. Axios reported that Washington informed Ukraine of the senior delegation's travel to Moscow in advance and asked it to suspend strikes until it leaves, quoting a source with knowledge of the matter.
1 source
CIA Director Ratcliffe reportedly in Moscow for talks, Kremlin denies plans
