Unusual visit to Moscow: "CIA director arrived for talks with the Russians"

CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow for an unusual visit that was not reported in advance. The US and Russia did not confirm the details, but the US updated Ukraine in advance and asked to stop the attacks on Moscow until the delegation leaves. The visit takes place against the backdrop of the American economic strangulation operation against Iran, of which Russia is a major trading partner.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow for an unusual visit that was not reported in advance. His plane took off from Latvia in the morning and returned there in the afternoon. The US and Russia did not confirm the details, but according to CBS News, the US updated Ukraine on the intention to send a senior delegation and asked Kyiv to stop the attacks on the Russian capital until the delegation leaves. This is apparently Ratcliffe's first visit to Russia as CIA director, and the first by a CIA director to Moscow since November 2021, when William Burns visited. Three months after that visit, Putin launched the war against Ukraine. The current visit comes a day after the US Treasury Secretary announced an economic strangulation operation against Iran, of which Russia is a major trading partner. Meanwhile, according to a report in the Daily Mail, the British Prime Minister was warned of a "direct response" from Russia due to its support for Ukraine. The article also provides background on the war in Ukraine, including the Ukrainian campaign to attack large warehouses in Russia.