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Dmitry Peskov Confirms CIA Director John Ratcliffe Visited Moscow for Security Service Contacts

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on August 25 to engage in contacts between security services. The visit marks Ratcliffe's first trip to Russia as CIA director under the administration. While the Kremlin initially stated it had no information regarding a U.S. military transport aircraft that landed at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport on Tuesday, the flight was later identified as a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III. The aircraft traveled from Maryland to Riga, Latvia, before arriving in Moscow. Latvia's Defense Ministry confirmed the flight was properly coordinated and authorized. The visit occurred as negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine have stalled. Ahead of Ratcliffe's trip, the United States requested that Ukraine halt drone and missile strikes in Moscow and other northern Russian cities from Monday through Wednesday. This request was made to accommodate the senior U.S. official's travel.

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