U.S. spy chief visits Russia for unannounced meetings

U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow for unannounced meetings with Russian officials, according to U.S. media outlets citing unnamed sources. This marks the first known visit by a U.S. spy chief to Russia's capital since Ratcliffe's predecessor, William Burns, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in November 2021.

Three months after that meeting, Russia invaded Ukraine. Ratcliffe, who was also the CIA chief under President Donald Trump, served as director of national intelligence in Trump's first term. The media outlets did not disclose the specific individuals he met with or the topics of the discussions. The CIA has not commented on the report.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov neither confirmed nor denied the visit, stating that Putin did not intend to meet with Ratcliffe. Last week, the U.S. requested that Ukraine refrain from launching air strikes near Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other northern Russian territories while a senior U.S. official's plane was en route to the Russian capital.

The Financial Times initially reported this U.S. warning to Ukraine. On Monday, the U.S. instructed countries to sever business ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions as part of efforts to intensify economic pressure on Tehran to resolve the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Iran supplied Moscow with drones for its war against Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of supplying drones to Iran through Russia.

A Ukrainian intelligence assessment in April reported that Russia has aided Iran with satellite imagery for targeting U.S. facilities in the Middle East. Russia denies supplying such assistance and has expressed willingness to help resolve the U.S.-Iran conflict.