CIA Director John Ratcliffe Meets with Russian Intelligence Officials in Moscow
A U.S. military C-17A Globemaster III aircraft was seen landing at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on August 25, 2026, as CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly met with Russian intelligence officials. The Kremlin confirmed the visit, stating that there had been contacts via security services, although no meetings with President Vladimir Putin took place.
President Donald Trump commented on Ratcliffe's trip during an interview, describing it as semi-routine and expressing hopes for an end to the war in Ukraine. He noted that both sides are interested in resolving the conflict. The White House, CIA, and U.S. Embassy in Moscow have been approached for further comments regarding the visit.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that President Putin is kept informed about such meetings without delay. The last CIA director to visit Moscow was William Burns in November 2021, prior to the onset of the war in Ukraine.
A senior Ukrainian official revealed that Washington had notified Kyiv about the delegation's travel to Moscow and requested a pause in strikes in specific areas, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, while strikes in other regions continued.
The C-17A Globemaster III had departed from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and made a stop in Riga, Latvia, before arriving in Moscow. This visit marks a significant moment in U.S.-Russia relations, particularly in the context of ongoing military tensions in the region.
