Diplomacy & Geopolitics
CIA head had Russia contacts, no Putin meeting, Kremlin says
CIA Director John Ratcliffe had contacts with Russia's special services during a visit to Moscow but did not meet President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on August 26.
“There were contacts through the intelligence agencies, but there were no meetings of any kind with the Russian president,” Peskov said.
Peskov said Putin had been briefed on the talks. He called the contacts a “positive development” but declined to say what was discussed or whether the war in Ukraine was raised.
US media reported that Ratcliffe made an unannounced trip to Moscow on August 25. CBS News cited sources familiar with the matter as confirming the trip, while Axios cited two US officials as reporting the visit.
Flightradar24 data showed a US military C-17 travelling from the United States to Latvia and then to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport before leaving Moscow several hours later. The tracking data did not show who was on board or why the aircraft travelled to Russia.
The White House and the CIA had not commented on the visit. The reported trip came as US-brokered talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine remained stalled.
Update
The CIA director is identified as John Ratcliffe.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 14:37:42 UTC.
Update
The CIA head was identified as John Radcliffe.
The White House and the CIA had not commented on the visit.
The last CIA director visit to Moscow cited was William Burns's November 2021 trip, before Russia sent troops into Ukraine.
The CIA has also been involved in prisoner swap deals with Russia, including a major exchange in mid-2024.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 10:11:45 UTC.
Update
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the intelligence contacts a positive development.
Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was briefed.
Peskov declined to say whether the war in Ukraine was raised.
The Kremlin did not disclose what was discussed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 09:47:36 UTC.
Update
The Kremlin said the CIA head spoke with Russian secret services in Moscow and did not meet President Vladimir Putin.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 09:30:58 UTC.
Update
Flightradar24 data showed the same US military C-17 leaving Moscow several hours later.
Axios was reported as citing two US officials on the visit.
The purpose of the reported visit was not immediately clear.
The United States and Russia have reached an impasse on nuclear arms control, and New START expired in February.
UN data said civilian casualties in Ukraine last month were their highest since 2022.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 16:05:24 UTC.
Update
The reported visit comes as US-brokered talks aimed at ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine have stalled.
Moscow earlier this month freed a former US Marine detained since 2022 amid health concerns.
The Iran war is also described as a live issue between Washington and Moscow, Tehran's ally.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 14:53:35 UTC.
Update
CBS News reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe is visiting Moscow for meetings, citing sources familiar with the situation.
CBS News said it was Ratcliffe's first known visit to Russia as CIA chief.
Axios also reported the trip, citing a US official.
There was no immediate comment from the CIA or the White House.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 14:44:53 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
What was discussed in the intelligence contacts was not disclosed.
The Kremlin did not say whether the Ukraine war was raised.
The White House and the CIA had not commented on the reported visit.
Source
AFP news report published on .