ALWAGHT- CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for a series of meetings, CBS News reported, citing people familiar with the visit.
News of Ratcliffe’s trip surfaced after a US Air Force C-17A transport plane was seen at a Moscow airport alongside a convoy of American diplomatic vehicles. Neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed the visit or its purpose, while the CIA has also declined to comment.
The trip is believed to be Ratcliffe’s first known visit to Russia since becoming CIA director. The agency has remained involved in US-Russia detainee and prisoner negotiations, including the releases of Ksenia Karelina in 2025 and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan in 2024.
Ratcliffe’s reported Moscow visit comes as US-led efforts to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict have stalled, with Moscow and Kyiv remaining divided over major issues.
