CIA Director John Ratcliffe Makes Secret Trip to Moscow
CIA Director John Ratcliffe is in Moscow for meetings, according to sources familiar with the situation, as US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine remain largely stalled.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - CIA Director John Ratcliffe is in Moscow for meetings, sources familiar with the situation told CBS News on Tuesday, in what appears to be his first known trip to Russia since becoming CIA director.
The visit follows the sighting of a US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft at a Moscow airport, alongside a US diplomatic motorcade.
Neither the US nor Russian governments has commented on the identity of the US official in Russia or the purpose of the visit. The CIA also did not immediately comment.
Ratcliffe has maintained contact with Russian intelligence counterparts, but the visit appears to be his first known trip to Russia in his current role.
The CIA has also played a role in recent US-Russia detainee exchanges.
In April 2025, the agency was involved in the release of US-Russian dual national Ksenia Karelina, whose case Ratcliffe personally negotiated.
The agency was also involved in the 2024 prisoner exchange that secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan.
Former CIA Director William Burns traveled to Moscow in November 2021, where he met with senior Russian officials and spoke directly with President Vladimir Putin.
Burns's visit came as tensions were rising over Russia's plans to invade Ukraine, according to the supplied report.
Ratcliffe's trip comes as US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine remain mostly stalled, with the sides still far apart on core issues.