CIA Chief Met Russian Intelligence, Not Putin: Kremlin
· World · NDTV, Al Jazeera, The Independent
CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow on an unannounced trip this week, the Kremlin confirmed, becoming one of the highest-ranking US officials to visit Russia since the Ukraine war began in 2022. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the talks were held with representatives of Russia's special services and did not include President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin did not disclose the agenda, the specific agencies involved, or the outcome of the discussions. US media reported the trip on Tuesday, though neither Washington nor Moscow initially confirmed the visit. The reason for the talks and any deliverables remain unclear.
Why it matters
Direct CIA–Russian intelligence contact is rare and signals a possible backchannel on Ukraine, nuclear risk, or prisoner exchanges at a time when formal US–Russia diplomatic ties are largely frozen. The absence of Putin from the meeting keeps the channel limited to intelligence-to-intelligence talks rather than a political breakthrough.
Read the original report — NDTV
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