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CIA Director Ratcliffe makes rare unannounced trip to Moscow
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow on August 25, US officials confirmed to RFE/RL, a rare trip that comes as efforts by Washington to end Russia's war against Ukraine have stalled.
According to RFE/RL, the reason for Ratcliffe's travel was not immediately clear. US officials familiar with the trip confirmed he flew to Moscow but declined to disclose the substance of his meetings or identify who he met.
RFE/RL reports that flight-tracking data showed a US military transport aircraft traveled from the United States through Latvia to Moscow. The aircraft appeared to have originated at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, landed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport early on August 25, and departed Russia later the same day.
The outlet notes that Ratcliffe's visit, the first publicly known trip he has made to Russia since becoming CIA director under President Donald Trump, raised questions given the delicate moment. RFE/RL also points to limited recent history of CIA chiefs traveling to Moscow in person, including William Burns speaking with Vladimir Putin in November 2021.