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The Kremlin says the CIA director held talks in Moscow with his intelligence counterparts
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare and secretive visit to Moscow for talks with Russian intelligence counterparts amid strained U.S.-Russia relations over the Ukraine war, though he did not meet President Putin.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the intelligence contacts as a positive development but emphasized that overall Russia-U.S. relations remain in a "profound crisis."
- The U.S. informed Ukraine of Ratcliffe’s visit and requested a temporary suspension of strikes in certain Russian regions, while strikes continued elsewhere.
- Experts note such intelligence meetings occur only when pressing national security issues arise, possibly including concerns about Iran’s activities in the Middle East, given Russia’s strategic partnership with Tehran.
- Despite ongoing conflict and stalled peace efforts in Ukraine, the visit signals that communication channels between Moscow and Washington remain open for critical security discussions.
