CIA Director John Ratcliffe visits Moscow for security-service contacts, U.S. media report

The rare trip by CIA chief John Ratcliff failed to persuade Putin to stop the war and may have hardened the Russian's leaders resolve to seek military victory.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday, Sept. 2, that CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s recent Moscow visit was intended to maintain communication between American and Russian intelligence services. His comments followed previous speculations that Ratcliffe’s meetings centered on Russia’s war against Ukraine or Moscow’s possible actions toward NATO.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s surprise trip last week to Moscow, casting it as an effort to keep communication channels open with Russia.

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

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Russian intelligence officials during an unusually visible visit to Moscow. CBS News' Holly Williams has more details.

There is very little information on CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow. Even so, there is enough information to make some observations. One reason for Ratcliffe’s visit was to warn Moscow about replacing the Kyiv regime, which Washington fears may be on the verge of collapse. The idea of a dying Ukraine isn’t in […] The post Mystery shrouds CIA chief Ratcliffe’s urgent visit to Moscow appeared first on Asia Times.

The purpose of the CIA chief's visit to Moscow this week was to warn Russia not to attack NATO member states, people familiar with the matter said, amid U.S. assessments that Russia could try to test NATO.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced visit to Moscow has fueled speculation over its purpose, with the most prominent theory being that he warned Russia against testing or attacking NATO. Trump called the trip “semi-routine,” while the Kremlin said Ratcliffe did not meet Putin. A less-discussed possibility is that talks touched on Russia-Iran cooperation.

Despite Trump’s claims, the CIA director’s visit was anything but routine. It might be a sign that Putin is getting more dangerous.

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

CIA Director John Ratcliffe took a surprise flight to Russia to meet with Kremlin officials. CBS News international reporter Aidan Stretch has more details.

The U.S. asked Ukraine to suspend its attacks against Russia as CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow. CBS News' Olivia Gazis reports on what we know and explains why the trip's visibility was unusual.

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.

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 and as ⁠efforts to reach a lasting peace between the US and Iran have stalled.

Ratcliffe's visit was the first known trip to Russia by a CIA director since William Burns visited in late 2021.

President Trump on Wednesday said CIA Director John Ratcliffe is visiting Russia as part of "routine" efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

CIA chief John Ratcliffe holds rare secret Moscow intelligence talks

The Kremlin says John Ratcliffe met Russian intelligence officials but not Vladimir Putin during his surprise visit to Moscow on Tuesday. The secrecy surrounding the trip fuelled speculation that the CIA director was carrying a warning from Washington.

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

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has disclosed the purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow, saying it was connected with contacts between the intelligence services of Russia and the United States. Peskov explains why Ratcliffe came to Moscow In comments to The Washington Post, Peskov said Ratcliffe's visit was related to contacts between the two countries' intelligence agencies. The Kremlin spokesman declined to provide further details. Peskov also said that no meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ratcliffe had been planned in Moscow. Earlier, he had said that no meeting with representatives of the US administration was scheduled at the Kremlin that week.

John Ratcliffe travelled to the Russian capital on Tuesday in a rare and unannounced visit.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow for talks with Russian intelligence officials. The purpose remains unclear, with analysts suggesting Iran, Ukraine, prisoner exchanges, or security concerns. European media say the unusually public visit may signal either diplomatic maneuvering or worsening US-Russia tensions requiring confidential communication.

CIA boss John Ratcliffe did not meet with President Putin during his surprise visit to Moscow on Tuesday, a Kremlin spokesman said.  The post CIA Chief John Ratcliffe Met With Russian Intelligence, Not Putin, on Moscow Trip Says Kremlin appeared first on Breitbart.

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

CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow for contacts between US and Russian intelligence services but did not meet President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The unexpected visit prompted speculation that the discussions could have involved the war in Ukraine, a potential energy and port strike moratorium, or US intelligence on Russia’s military plans.

A U.S. military plane landed at an airport in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe was among those on board. Charlie D'Agata reports.

The media outlets, which cited unnamed sources, did not say whom CIA Director John Ratcliffe was meeting or what the talks are expected to cover

The CIA director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced flight to Moscow for talks, according to a source. This is Ratcliffe's first trip to Moscow since he began his tenure as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency. 

WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with Russian officials, U.S. media outlets reported, citing unnamed sources.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with Russian officials, U.S. media ‌outlets reported, citing unnamed sources. The visit would be the first known…

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Ratcliffe was in Moscow on Tuesday for talks with top Russian officials, according to U.S. media reports. The unannounced visit, which has not been confirmed by either the CIA or the Kremlin, is the first such trip since former CIA Director William Burns traveled to Moscow in 2021. A […] CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly visits Russia

US CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow for talks with Russian officials, in what would be the first known visit by a US spy chief to Russia since 2021.

Moscow: United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe has reportedly arrived in Moscow for high-level "secret meetings," according to reports by CBS News and other international media outlets. The unannounced visit is the first by a sitting CIA chief since 2021. The CIA, Department of Defence and Air Force declined to comment on the development, as per a report in ABC News.C-17A Globemaster III Aircraft Lands In MoscowEarly today, an American Boeing C-17A Globemaster III military transport aircraft was spotted landing at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport, according to online air traffic monitoring systems, Russian news agency TASS reported. BUCKLE UP: CIA Director’s secret Moscow dash: No peace talks -signs of major escalation?CIA Director John Ratcliffe has made an unexpected, completely unannounced visit to Moscow. This wasn’t planned and almost certainly isn’t about peace negotiations. It points instead to… pic.twitter.com/r8aj0U4QeP— Global Strategy (@World_At_War_6) August 25, 2026 US Military C-17 Globemaster Lands In Moscow, Kremlin Says It Has No Information On Aircraft As per the report in Russian official media outlet, the aircraft, which originated from the Andrews Air Force Base near Washington DC, touched down in the Russian capital at approximately 10 am Moscow time (07:00 GMT). According to available flight tracking data, the heavy-lift transport plane followed a multi-stop route before entering Russian airspace. It had a prior stop at the Charleston International Airport/Air Force Base and then at Riga in Latvia, before continuing its journey toward the Russian border. While the CIA has declined to comment, sources familiar with the trip suggest Ratcliffe is slated to meet with top Russian security and intelligence officials. NEW: CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Moscow today aboard a US Air Force C-17 for meetings, according to CBS News citing multiple sources.The Kremlin said it had "no information" about the visit.No details on who Ratcliffe met or the agenda. https://t.co/Y14uaWEP2H— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 25, 2026 Director Ratcliffe has reportedly maintained a quiet but consistent line of communication with his Russian counterpart, SVR chief Sergey Naryshkin. Following Ratcliffe taking office as CIA Director, the two spy chiefs held a notable phone call on March 11, 2025, their first direct contact in over two years, according to CBS News. Experts suggest the visit may also involve sensitive negotiations regarding future prisoner exchanges, following Ratcliffe's personal role in the April 2025 release of US-Russian dual national Ksenia Karelina. US Air Force C-17 Military Plane Lands In Moscow From Riga; Kremlin Says 'No Information' The mission mirrors the November 2021 visit by former Director William Burns, who traveled to Moscow in a final attempt to avert the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A source within the European Union air traffic control authorities confirmed to TASS that the US military plane departed from Latvia and proceeded directly toward Russian territory. The Boeing C-17A Globemaster III is a premier strategic transport aircraft used by the United States Air Force for the rapid delivery of troops and all types of cargo. The specific purpose of the mission and the nature of the cargo on board have not been officially disclosed by either the Pentagon or the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No official statement has been released regarding whether the flight is related to diplomatic logistics, prisoner exchanges, or other bilateral administrative matters. China Warns US Over Iran Sanctions, Pledges To Protect Economic Interests Al Jazeera earlier cited Flightradar24 and reported that a US Air Force transport plane landed at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Tuesday, according to Flightradar24, but Kremlin said it has no information about the aircraft or its arrival.Following the start of the Ukraine war, the US, along with its European allies has imposed economic sanctions on Moscow. These include a reciprocal ban on aircraft. Russian planes are prohibited from entering US and EU airspace, and Russia has similarly closed its skies to "unfriendly nations." (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with Russian officials, CBS News reported.  Flight trackers spotted a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane flying from Riga, Latvia, to Moscow on Tuesday.  The CIA and the White House did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request...

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.

U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled toMoscow on Tuesday for meetings with Russian officials, U.S. media outlets reported, citing unnamed sources. The visit would be the first known visit to the Russian capital by a U.S. spy chief since Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, held talks with Vladimir Putin in November 2021. About three months after […]

CIA Director John Ratcliffe is in Moscow, Russia, for a round of meetings, sources told CBS News on Tuesday. The nature of the trip is unclear.

US CIA Director ⁠John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow ⁠on Tuesday for meetings ⁠with Russian officials, US media outlets reported, citing unnamed sources. The visit would be the first known visit to the Russian capital by a US spy chief since Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, ‌held talks with Vladimir Putin in November 2021. About three months after that meeting, the Russian president launched Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. CBS News and Axios reported the visit by Ratcliffe, US President...

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has arrived in Moscow for meetings with Russian officials, CBS and Axios said citing sources familiar with the visit. It is the first time Ratcliffe has traveled to Russia since becoming CIA director in January 2025. Ratcliffe arrives in Moscow aboard US military aircraft CBS reporter Jennifer Jacobs reported, citing sources, that Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow aboard a US Air Force C-17 military transport aircraft. Axios correspondent Barak Ravid also reported that two unnamed US officials had confirmed Ratcliffe's visit. The sources described the purpose of the trip simply as "meetings in Moscow." No further details about the agenda or the Russian officials Ratcliffe is expected to meet have been disclosed.

Neither the CIA nor the Russian government has publicly confirmed the visit or disclosed the purpose of the meetings.

A US Air Force C-17 military transport plane landed in Moscow on Tuesday, Aug. 25 after flying from Riga, raising questions about the mission. CBS News later reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe was in Moscow for alleged meetings with Russian authorities.

US media outlets say John Ratcliffe was in Russia to attend meetings. Flight tracking websites had earlier detected the arrival of a US military transport plane at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport.

According to reports, CIA Director John Ratcliffe secretly flew to Moscow on Tuesday. The purpose of Ratcliffe’s Russia trip is unclear, though inside sources that spoke with CBS News said that he is attending meetings. His visit marks the first time since 2021—months before Russia invaded Ukraine—that a director of the CIA has visited the country.News of Ratcliffe’s involvement came in the wake of intense speculation surrounding a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane that was spotted flying from Riga, Latvia, to Vnukovo Airport just outside Moscow. An observer that flew out of Riga Airport Tuesday morning described seeing an aircraft similar in shape, color, and size as a U.S. Air Force C-40B—which are typically used to transport senior U.S. government officials and senior military commanders—alongside the C-17, as well as several cars with diplomatic plates.Air traffic trackers recorded the C-40’s flight path originating at Joint Base Andrews and landing in Riga.Moscow residents shared video of the envoy’s arrival, which involved multiple SUVs with tinted windows breezing through city traffic with a heavy police escort.Neither the U.S. nor Russia has commented on the trip, or offered any insight into who is participating in the meetings. Rather, the Kremlin announced Tuesday that no talks between Moscow and U.S. envoys were expected this week.“No, there are no such plans,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press conference when asked whether more talks had been scheduled to end the Russia-Ukraine war.Trump administration officials reportedly asked Kyiv not to strike Moscow, St. Petersburg, or the northern regions of Russia between Monday and Wednesday, to which Ukraine agreed, according to the Financial Times.The CIA’s press office did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication.Former CIA Director William Burns was the last CIA chief to visit Moscow. He did so in November 2021 to warn senior Russian officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin against war with Ukraine. Fast forward to today, four years into the war, and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have made little progress.Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is grappling with a domestic catastrophe alongside the violent conflict. Last week, Zelenskiy’s ousted Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov accused Zelenskiy’s administration of rampant corruption and called for a wartime poll to potentially unseat the former comedian, despite regional laws that prevent an election during wartime. Zelenskiy told reporters Sunday that he believed an election at this time would “destroy” Ukraine.

Unannounced trip reported by US media is said to be Ratcliffe’s first known visit to Russia as CIA chiefThe CIA director, John Ratcliffe, has made an unannounced visit to Moscow, US media reported, after flight data showed an American military aircraft flew to the Russian capital, where a US diplomatic motorcade was later spotted.CBS News quoted sources familiar with the situation as confirming Ratcliffe’s trip, saying it was his first known visit to Russia as CIA chief. Axios separately confirmed the visit, quoting a US official. Continue reading...

CIA Director John Ratcliffe ​visited Russia to attend meetings in Moscow on Tuesday, according to two US media outlets, in what is believed to be Ratcliffe's first known trip to Russia since taking over as US spy chief. The reported visit comes as US-brokered talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war have stalled. 

John Ratcliffe reportedly arrived in the Russian capital on Tuesday for meetings, in what appears to be his first visit to Russia as CIA director.

The CIA, Department of Defense and Air Force declined to comment.

WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Russia to attended meetings in Moscow on Tuesday, U.S. media outlets reported citing unnamed sources.CBS News and Axios both reported the visit by U.S. President Donald Trump's former director of national intelligence who now runs the nation's spy agency. The outlets did not say who Ratcliffe was meeting with or what the talks are expected to cover.

Ratcliffe is one of Trump's most trusted advisers and heavily involved with the Iran war, though it is unclear what he may be discussing with Russian leaders.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has traveled to Russia for meetings, CBS reported, after Russia’s state-run Tass news service reported that a large US military transport plane had landed in Moscow on Tuesday.

The Kremlin said the purpose of John Ratcliffe’s trip to the Russian capital was for “contacts between security services.”