Washington, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with Russian officials, according to US media reports, as Washington-led efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war remain largely stalled.
CBS News first reported that Ratcliffe was in the Russian capital, citing sources familiar with the matter. CNN subsequently confirmed the visit, quoting a US official familiar with his travel. Neither report identified the Russian officials Ratcliffe met or disclosed the agenda of the discussions. The CIA has declined to comment.
The visit became public after a US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft was spotted at a Moscow airport along with a US diplomatic motorcade. The aircraft landed at Vnukovo International Airport after travelling from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and later Riga, Latvia, according to reports.
The trip appears to be Ratcliffe’s first known visit to Russia since becoming CIA director. CBS News reported that he has maintained contact with Russian intelligence counterparts and that the CIA has previously played a role in US-Russia detainee and prisoner exchanges.
Ahead of Ratcliffe’s visit, Washington asked Ukraine to temporarily suspend drone and missile strikes in Russia, including attacks on Moscow and other northern Russian cities, according to reports. A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv was informed that a senior US delegation would travel to Moscow.
The development comes as US-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv have made limited progress, with both sides still divided over key issues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv sees a window for US mediation and is preparing proposals with Washington and European partners for presentation to Moscow.
The circumstances and purpose of Ratcliffe’s Moscow meetings have not been publicly disclosed, leaving the significance of the visit unclear.
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