"There were discussions between intelligence officials, but he did not have a meeting with President Vladimir Putin", Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on 26/8, referring to CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow.
Peskov added that President Putin had been informed about the content of the talks between Ratcliffe and Russian intelligence officials, but declined to disclose whether the Ukraine conflict was discussed by the two sides.
"Maintaining contact through intelligence agencies is a positive signal in itself. It is too early to say how this will impact the resolution of the crisis in relations between the two sides", Peskov commented.
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CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Washington on 19/3. *AFP* |
When asked about Ratcliffe's unexpected visit to Moscow, US President Donald Trump stated it was a "semi-routine" mission in Russia. The term "semi-routine" refers to activities based on existing communication channels that do not occur on a regular schedule but arise as the situation dictates.
"I hate to disappoint everyone. We want to see the war with Ukraine end", Trump added.
The Kyiv Independent previously cited an anonymous source stating that the US had asked Ukraine to temporarily halt attacks on Moscow and St. Petersburg prior to Ratcliffe's trip. The source indicated that Ukraine would be informed about the CIA Director's meetings in Russia.
The last time a CIA director visited Russia was in 11/2021, just months before President Vladimir Putin ordered the operation in Ukraine. At that time, CIA Director William Burns met Nikolai Patrushev, then-secretary of the Russian Security Council.
Since his appointment in 1/2025, Ratcliffe has maintained regular contact with Sergey Naryshkin, director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).
President Trump has pledged to mediate an end to the Ukraine conflict. However, he has faced difficulties in bringing Moscow and Kyiv to a compromise, as both sides have intensified airstrikes deep within each other's territory this summer.
Ngoc Anh (AFP, Reuters)
