CIA director John Ratcliffe reportedly on Moscow visit

The CIA director, John Ratcliffe, has made an unannounced visit to Moscow, US media reported, after flight data showed an American military aircraft flew to the Russian capital, where a US diplomatic motorcade was later spotted.CBS News quoted sources familiar with the situation as confirming Ratcliffe’s trip, saying it was his first known visit to Russia as CIA chief. Axios separately confirmed the visit, quoting a US official.The Financial Times reported that the Trump administration had asked Kyiv to pause its long-range strikes on major Russian cities during the course of the visit.There was no immediate comment from the CIA or the White House.Data from Flightradar24 showed a US military C-17 travelling from the US to Latvia and then on to Moscow. The tracker showed that the flight originated from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, best known for hosting Air Force One.The C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that the US air force website says can be used for strategic and tactical airlift and airdrop missions as well as aeromedical evacuations.Ratcliffe’s reported visit comes as US-brokered talks aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have stalled. However, earlier this month Moscow freed a former US marine detained since 2022, amid concerns about his health.The reason for the visit is unclear but the CIA has mediated in recent US-Russia detainee exchanges and was involved in the 2024 prisoner exchange that secured the release of the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and the marine veteran Paul Whelan.Some speculation has focused on the war in Iran, which remains a bone of contention between Moscow and Washington. On Monday the US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, announced a new economic sanctions strategy designed to isolate Iran.