CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow this week in an unusual visit aimed at warning Russia against attacking a NATO member, according to US media reports, as President Donald Trump sought to downplay the significance of the trip.
Reports by The Wall Street Journal and CBS said Ratcliffe’s mission involved deterring a potential Russian attack against a NATO member. US intelligence agencies reportedly believe Moscow could seek to test the alliance in the coming years.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be considering a “limited attack” against a NATO member state in the next few years.
The White House has not commented on the reports despite a request for comment from Agence France-Presse.
Trump, speaking to commentator Glenn Beck, described Ratcliffe’s Moscow visit as “semi-routine”, suggesting that discussions focused on the war in Ukraine.
“We would like to see the war in Ukraine end,” Trump said.
According to US media reports, Ratcliffe also raised the war in Iran during his Moscow visit and threatened additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen.
Trump, however, said the visit had nothing to do with Iran or alleged Russian threats against NATO.
“He was not there for any of the issues you mentioned,” Trump said.
Talks Between Intelligence Services
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow for talks “between intelligence services” and confirmed that he did not meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Peskov said it was too early to assess whether the visit would influence efforts to restore bilateral relations, which he described as being in a deep crisis.
He said no further talks had been scheduled at this stage, although he described the contacts as “positive” and declined to reveal what the two sides discussed.
The last publicly known visit by a CIA director to Russia took place in November 2021, several months before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
