The CIA director is reportedly in Moscow for meetings with Russian officials in his first known Russia visit as agency chief, while Washington has asked Ukraine to pause long-range strikes during the trip.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has traveled to Moscow for unannounced talks with Russian officials, according to multiple U.S. media reports and officials familiar with the visit. The CIA has declined to comment, and neither Washington nor Moscow has publicly confirmed the purpose of the meetings.
The trip comes at a particularly sensitive moment. U.S.-mediated negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine have stalled, while Washington has reportedly asked Kyiv to temporarily suspend long-range drone and missile strikes on Moscow and other northern Russian cities during the visit.
If confirmed as reported, Ratcliffe’s presence would make this one of the highest-level U.S. visits to Russia during President Donald Trump’s second term.
A rare U.S. intelligence visit to Moscow
Ratcliffe reportedly arrived in Moscow Tuesday after traveling on a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft traveling from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to Latvia and then Moscow, where it landed at Vnukovo International Airport. The aircraft later departed Moscow.
A U.S. diplomatic motorcade was also reportedly seen in Moscow after the aircraft arrived, adding to indications that a senior American delegation was in the Russian capital.
The visit is believed to be Ratcliffe’s first known trip to Russia since becoming CIA director. Axios described it as the highest-level visit by a Trump administration official to Russia since January.
Washington reportedly asked Ukraine to pause strikes
One of the most significant details surrounding the trip is the reported request to Ukraine.
According to sources cited by CNN and Axios, the United States told Ukrainian officials that a senior U.S. delegation would be traveling to Russia and asked Kyiv to pause drone and missile strikes on Moscow and other Russian cities from Monday through Wednesday.
The request has not been publicly confirmed by the White House.
It also does not establish what Ratcliffe is discussing in Moscow. The substance of his meetings remains undisclosed.
Why Ratcliffe’s role matters
The CIA has previously been involved in sensitive U.S.-Russia negotiations, particularly prisoner exchanges.
Ratcliffe personally played a role in negotiations that led to the 2025 release of U.S.-Russian dual national Ksenia Karelina. The agency was also involved in the 2024 prisoner exchange that brought home Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
That history makes an intelligence-level meeting potentially significant, although there is currently no confirmation that detainee negotiations are the reason for Ratcliffe’s Moscow trip.
The trip comes amid wider U.S.-Russia tensions
Ratcliffe’s visit also comes as Washington is pursuing a tougher economic strategy against Iran.
On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast, a new sanctions campaign targeting Iran and entities helping Tehran maintain its economic and financial connections. Russia is an important strategic partner of Iran.
However, neither the CIA nor the White House has said that Iran is part of Ratcliffe’s Moscow discussions.
For now, the clearest facts are these: Ratcliffe is reportedly in Moscow, a U.S. military aircraft carried out the unusual flight, Russian officials are reportedly meeting with him, and the trip comes as the Ukraine peace process remains stalled. The exact agenda—and whether the visit produces any diplomatic breakthrough—remains unknown.
