CIA director warned Russia not to attack NATO members: US media

CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow this week to warn Russia against attacking NATO members, according to US media reports. The unusual trip came as US intelligence assessed the possibility of Russia testing the alliance's resolve. The Wall Street Journal and CBS News noted that Ratcliffe aimed to dissuade Russia from launching a limited assault on NATO countries in the coming years.

However, the White House downplayed the visit, stating that it was semi-routine and focused on the ongoing Ukraine war. President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of ending the conflict with Ukraine and noted that Ratcliffe's visit was not solely about the NATO issue. The Kremlin, meanwhile, claimed that Ratcliffe met with Russia's special services but did not meet with President Vladimir Putin.

The last time a CIA director visited Moscow was in November 2021, when William Burns cautioned against Russian troop deployment into Ukraine, which led to Russia's subsequent invasion. Ratcliffe's visit coincides with increased Moscow aggression in Ukraine, resulting in a surge in civilian casualties and stalled US-brokered peace talks.