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

CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently visited Moscow to caution Russia against any potential attacks on NATO member countries, US media outlets reported on Wednesday. This came after President Donald Trump attempted to downplay the purpose of Ratcliffe's trip. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and CBS News, Ratcliffe sought to dissuade Russia from testing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with a limited assault in the coming years, based on US intelligence assessments.

The White House did not comment on the matter, with Trump describing the visit as "semi-routine," implying Ratcliffe's presence in Moscow to discuss the ongoing Ukraine war. Ratcliffe, one of the highest-ranking US officials to visit Russia since the 2022 conflict, also addressed Russia's ongoing offensive in Ukraine and Iran's Strait of Hormuz situation, potentially leading to more sanctions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Ratcliffe had contact with Russia's special services during his visit but did not meet President Vladimir Putin. The last time a CIA director traveled to Moscow was in November 2021, when William Burns warned Russia against sending troops into Ukraine. The recent visit follows new US intelligence assessments and underscores the ongoing tensions between the United States and Russia, particularly in relation to the Ukraine conflict.