CIA Director John Ratcliffe Reportedly Arrives in Moscow for Unannounced Meetings

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has reportedly arrived in Moscow on August 25 to conduct meetings, according to CBS News, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The news of his trip emerged after a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III military transport aircraft of the US Air Force and a motorcade of American diplomats were spotted at a Moscow airport.

Sources later confirmed Ratcliffe’s arrival in the Russian capital, though no official statements have been released regarding the visit.

The last personal visit by a CIA head to Russia occurred in November 2021, when William Burns traveled to Moscow to deliver a high-level warning to the Kremlin that the US was aware of plans for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On August 1, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced efforts planned for the coming weeks to determine whether peace talks between Ukraine and Russia could be resumed.

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World

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Media reports previously indicated that special envoys of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were expected to visit Kyiv during Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations, though that trip did not take place.

Previously, US intelligence warned European countries that Russia might have been preparing hybrid operations, especially against Poland and the Baltic states.

The CIA had reportedly identified possible risks of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure and false-flag operations. However, intelligence officials said that the Kremlin might have only been trying to create the appearance of preparations in order to spread fear. There were no indications that Russia was planning a conventional invasion of European countries.

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