Russia planning to use nukes? Why CIA chief made 'emergency' visit to Moscow

CIA Director John Ratcliffe paid an "emergency" visit to Moscow amid growing concerns that Russia may employ nuclear weapons or target Ukraine's Western allies in their ongoing conflict, according to reports from DailyMail. The US official's mission was reportedly based on intelligence suggesting Russia could swiftly retaliate following recent battlefield setbacks. The visit occurred as tensions between Moscow and the UK escalated due to Britain's expanding military support for Ukraine.

Sources cited by the Kyiv Independent revealed that Washington had advised Kyiv to refrain from striking Moscow and St Petersburg during Ratcliffe's stay. However, Kyiv agreed to a temporary ceasefire only between August 24 and 26, as US officials believed Russia's air defenses around the two cities were not robust enough to ensure protection.

Ratcliffe was scheduled to meet senior Russian officials, though the agenda of these discussions remained undisclosed. The Kremlin has not officially commented on the reported visit. Flightradar24 data indicated Ratcliffe's arrival in Moscow via a US Air Force C-17 military transport aircraft on Tuesday, after flying from Latvia's Riga to Moscow on August 23.

This development took place amid intensified US-Russia diplomatic contacts since the return of Donald Trump to the White House. However, repeated visits to Moscow by Trump's peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have thus far been unsuccessful in resolving major disagreements between Russia and Ukraine, particularly regarding territorial disputes.