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CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on August 25 for meetings with Russian officials, according to Axios and CBS News, citing U.S. sources. The purpose and outcome of the talks have not been disclosed.
A U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III military transport aircraft landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after previously stopping in Riga. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft had departed from the Washington area.
Neither the CIA nor the Russian authorities initially confirmed Ratcliffe’s presence or provided details about his meetings. Reuters also reported that the identities of the Russian officials involved and the subjects discussed remain unknown.
This appears to be Ratcliffe’s first known visit to Russia as CIA director and the highest-level publicly reported engagement between the Trump administration and Russia since January.
Ratcliffe has previously maintained contact with Russian intelligence officials and has been involved in sensitive negotiations, including U.S.-Russia prisoner and detainee exchanges. His visit comes as U.S.-mediated talks over the war in Ukraine remain largely stalled.
The previous known visit by a CIA director to Moscow was made by William Burns in November 2021, several months before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Burns met senior Russian officials and spoke directly with President Vladimir Putin.
