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US spy chief holds talks with Russian intelligence in Moscow

Filed · 3 publisher pages · upstream origin unresolved

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Russian intelligence officials in Moscow on Aug 25, marking one of the highest-level US visits to Russia since the 2022 Ukraine invasion. President Trump described the trip as semi-routine, suggesting it aimed to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Ratcliffe did not meet President Vladimir Putin but held contacts with Russian special services. Putin was briefed on the talks. The visit followed increased Russian attacks in Ukraine and stalled US-brokered peace efforts.

Peskov called the intelligence contacts a positive development but said it was too early to judge their impact on the broader crisis in US-Russia relations. Ukraine has not yet been briefed on the outcome of the meetings, despite earlier US promises to do so.

Trump dismissed speculation that Ratcliffe was addressing NATO resolve or US pressure on Iran, saying the focus was solely on ending the Ukraine conflict. Ukraine was reportedly asked to avoid strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg during the visit.

Pages read

  1. straits-times — CIA director was on ‘semi-routine’ mission in Russia, says Trump ·
  2. kyiv-independent — Trump says CIA chief's Russia trip was 'semi-routine' as Ukraine still awaits briefing ·
  3. the-hindu — Kremlin says U.S. spy chief held talks with Russian counterparts during Moscow visit ·

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3 publisher pages; upstream origin unresolved 1–3. Registry news_provenance_registry_v1.

  1. straits-times: upstream origin unresolved; cluster not certified.
  2. kyiv-independent: upstream origin unresolved; cluster not certified.
  3. the-hindu: upstream origin unresolved; cluster not certified.

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