The Kremlin says the CIA director held talks in Moscow with his intelligence counterparts

John Ratcliffe, the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has arrived in Moscow for unannounced talks, according to CBS, a US news partner of the BBC. The details of the visit and the individuals Ratcliffe was set to meet with have not been confirmed by the US or Russian governments. During his visit, Ratcliffe was likely seen boarding a large US military aircraft at approximately 05:50 GMT from Riga airport, which later landed in Moscow at around 07:04 GMT.

Footage on social media purportedly showed a diplomatic motorcade traveling through Moscow during the same time period. This marks Ratcliffe's first trip to Russia as CIA director, although he has reportedly maintained communication with his intelligence counterparts in Moscow. The nature of the visit and Ratcliffe's intended conversations remain unclear.

Foreman, a former British military attaché to Moscow, suggested that the trip could be focused on "escalation management" following recent drone activity in Germany that may have ties to Russia. He also speculated that the visit could be related to the release of US detainees currently held in Russia. Ratcliffe had a role in negotiating the release of Russian-American citizen Ksenia Karelina from a Russian prison, as well as the 2024 prisoner swap deal involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US marine Paul Whelan, and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.

Tensions between the US and Russia have been high since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading to international sanctions and strained relations. Ratcliffe is one of the highest-ranking US officials to visit Russia during President Donald Trump's second term, though his visit did not result in any significant breakthroughs.

Following Trump's presidency, subsequent US-led peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have reportedly stalled.