The Kremlin announced on Wednesday that U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe engaged in discussions with Russian intelligence officials during his recent trip to Moscow, where he did not have a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. President Donald Trump characterized the visit as “semi-routine.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed the media that Putin had been briefed on the outcomes of the visit, which coincided with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the impasse in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations. Peskov refrained from disclosing the specifics of the discussions.
Peskov stated, “I can confirm that there were communications through the security services. I can also confirm that there were no sit-downs with the Russian president. Naturally, President Putin is kept updated promptly on all matters.”
The purpose of Ratcliffe’s visit remained undisclosed, as Trump mentioned in a radio interview that the discussions could potentially yield positive outcomes in resolving conflicts, particularly referencing the situation in Ukraine.
The most recent visit by a U.S. CIA director to Moscow was in November 2021 when Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, held discussions with Putin, preceding the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. Peskov acknowledged the importance of ongoing contacts between the intelligence agencies of both nations even during challenging diplomatic times.
He emphasized, “Such engagements persist even during the toughest phases of bilateral relations. Our president has acknowledged this. However, it is premature to gauge the extent to which these interactions will contribute to navigating our bilateral relations out of the current crisis.”