Media: CIA chief used Moscow trip to warn Russia over NATO, Iran

CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Russian officials during a rare, unannounced visit to Moscow this week against escalating the conflict with U.S. NATO allies, particularly Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as Russia’s war in Ukraine remains deadlocked, two people familiar with the matter told POLITICO.

Ratcliffe also pressed Moscow to reduce its military and economic support for Iran, according to one of the sources and a British official familiar with the trip. All three were granted anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The Trump administration did not officially acknowledge Ratcliffe’s visit until Wednesday morning. It was the first known trip to Moscow by a CIA director under President Donald Trump. In late 2021, then-CIA Director William Burns warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against invading Ukraine. Russian forces crossed into Ukraine three months later.

Ratcliffe’s visit comes amid intensified Russian and Ukrainian drone and missile strikes far beyond the front lines. Moscow has also issued threats against NATO countries supporting Ukraine, raising concerns over possible hybrid warfare or limited military action against alliance members, including Britain.

His “meeting was primarily to warn Russia against any escalatory action against the Baltic states,” the first source said.

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that Ratcliffe had warned Russia against attacking NATO countries.

Trump, speaking in a radio interview, dismissed speculation that Ratcliffe’s mission was aimed at persuading Putin not to test NATO’s resolve or attack Britain. He described the trip as “semi-routine” while acknowledging that ending the war was a key issue.

“I hate to disappoint people. We would like to see the war with Ukraine end,” Trump said.

Under NATO’s treaty, an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Russia has nevertheless used sabotage and cyberattacks for years to target European allies without provoking broader military retaliation.

Public flight-tracking data showed that the C-17 aircraft carrying Ratcliffe to Moscow departed from Latvia.

Ratcliffe also urged Moscow to stop supplying weapons and defence technology to Iran and warned it against “overreacting” to possible sanctions, the British official said. Russia has reportedly provided material to strengthen Iran’s drone arsenal and may be helping Tehran identify targets for attacks on U.S. facilities in the Middle East.

The mission reflects Trump’s reliance on Ratcliffe in sensitive diplomacy. Ratcliffe secretly visited Cuba in May to warn its government to undertake fundamental reforms or face U.S. pressure.

Senator James Lankford welcomed the Moscow outreach despite Congress having little information about the trip.

“Things don’t get better by not talking,” Lankford told POLITICO. “Right now, Russia doesn’t seem to be focused on trying to solve anything. But we’ve got to be able to find out what the endgame is for them.”

By Tamilla Hasanova