CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unexpected visit to Moscow, Russia, today.
According to flight data and new media reporting Director Ratcliffe flew into Latvia and from Latvia into Russia on a C-17 military transport plane.
VIA CBS – CIA Director John Ratcliffe is in Moscow, Russia, for meetings, sources familiar with the situation told CBS News on Tuesday.
News of his trip comes after a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane was spotted at a Moscow airport, along with a U.S. diplomatic motorcade. Neither the U.S. nor Russian governments has commented on the identity of the U.S. official in Russia or the purpose of the visit.
The CIA did not immediately comment.
It appears to be Ratcliffe’s first known trip to Russia as CIA director, though he has maintained contact with Russian intelligence counterparts. (more)
VIA AXIOS – CIA director John Ratcliffe is visiting Moscow on Tuesday for talks with Russian officials, two U.S. officials said.
Why it matters: This is Ratcliffe’s first trip to Moscow since he took office and the highest-level visit by a Trump administration official to Russia since January.
Ahead of Ratcliffe’s trip, the U.S. told Ukraine that a senior delegation was traveling to Moscow and asked it to suspend strikes until it leaves, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. (link)
We shall not speculate too much on the purpose and intent of the visit; however, overall, the direction points to intelligence sharing or notification.
Recently the British announced they would be sharing “storm shadow missile” technology with Ukraine in order for Ukraine to build them for themselves. The Storm Shadow (also known as SCALP-EG in France) is a Franco-British, long-range, air-launched cruise missile used for precision deep-strike attacks against high-value targets. Essentially, the Storm Shadow missile is the U.K version of the Tomahawk cruise missile.
Ukraine would be building those missiles with money provided by the EU from the confiscated Russian sovereign wealth fund. Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin likely doesn’t appreciate that very much.
According to Visegrad, “President Putin had a major event scheduled for today, with hundreds of people preparing for it. The event was canceled due to the visit of the CIA director, according to Kremlin pool journalists.” CIA Director John Ratcliffe is now returning home from Moscow.
Thank you for providing us this information. To be a fly on the wall.
Holy crap. Intel sharing so important that it had to be done in person by the CIA director himself, and Putin cancels a major public event right after the intel is shared.
It is truly frightening to think of what may have just been avoided and the lengths that our alleged allies were about to go.
God bless everyone involved here and keep them safe.
Are ducks starting to get in a row? SO much happening right now!
<Are ducks starting to get in a row?>
If Russia owes us…It will be on their bills 🙂
Once again Wordman quacks us up.
“… never count your money while you’re sittin’ at the table …”
The American People’s “alleged allies” (5-eyes; EU) are weak, immature, emotional, and prone to irrational behavior. … Let’s pray they don’t “toss the table” and let loose with the only real weapons they have … thus forcing, Pres. Putin’s and the US hands.
I hate to entertain the thought that some or all of europe must be destroyed to restore a “general peace” to the world.
Thanks for the article
Hoping that Trump is finally following through on ending that war. Why we’ve kept expending resources to prop up Ukraine’s pointless fighting, which harms our economy, I haven’t understood.
EU/NATO/Ukraine are the side refusing to end the war without complete humiliating Russian withdrawal and crippling punitive reparations and Putin’s head on a silver platter.
Vince , you must keep in mind that when a politician says something will harm the economy he is not talking about our economy he is talking about his DC establishment economy.
The only way a political operative has his economy grow is by harming ours.
In essence helping the grifter’s economy is what the Ukraine conflict is all about.
Factcheck: TRUE
As much as I wish he could, Trump cannot end the war in Ukraine.
A lofty goal. Nothing more.
Were it that simple.
Ending a continental grift is like opening an oyster with your toes.
Putin changing his schedule indicates this trip was a relatively last minute decision–or, at least, those are his preferred optics for the meeting.
Speculation could come up with anything, but one thing seems safe to say: +90% probability that this is a meeting to stop something rather than to start something.
Maybe it is proof that “W”NBA player, Brittney Griner is really a dude and that’s why the “W”NBA is reticent to define what a woman is.
Global coordination begins with direct contact, not distance
Ratcliffe is one of the guys PDJT47 trusts to deliver a message to Putin without turds like Vindman listening in and leaking.
I believe this war is a lot closer to the end than the beginning. Shooting missiles at Russia’s version of Amazon (targeting civilians, which are war crimes when they do it but not when the Ukes do) has not changed conditions on the battlefield. The Russians continue to grind forward. See: Pete Blaber on youtube for honest assessments.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s flight has now left Moscow.
His visit to the Russian capital appears to have lasted only a few hours
Was Ratcliffe on the flight?
CIA? I just will never trust’em…. ever.
Hopefully the storm shadow missile build quality is just as flaky as a typical Jaguar or Aston Martin.
Proof of lying CIA is to be handed in person.
The loathsome EU, a failing entity on all fronts, has nailed their colours to the Ukrainian mast. War must continue. Peace is not an option for them under any circumstances.
Ratcliffe was sent by President Trump right after Carney slammed the door and announced a “union” of sorts with the EU. I’m not suggesting one has anything to do with the other. But timing is all…and certainly is curious.
Rabbit holes being dug.
Sweaty palms in Brussels.
Ratcliffe went because no one else in the CIA can be trusted with the information.
The least we pretend the better. Our “friends” are our new enemies and our “enemies” are new acquaintances. Europes duplicitous attempt to destroy the U.S. leverage is annoying.
“Russian Collusion”
“Putin’s Puppet”
Just saying.
or maybe …. “Trump is colluding with the Russians to steal the 2026 mid-terms!”
Such a short visit. It has to be something urgent and something not to be discussed over the airwaves. Russia does have ties with the IRGC as well as its operations against Ukraine.
This has to be positive
Whatever the meeting was about, quite clearly it was extremely important. Important enough that I think it is unlikely to be leaked. We can speculate endlessly about what it was about and maybe never quite guess what it really was.
Well, virtually all the popcorn in the world is made here in the U.S., so perhaps we should stock up and wait to see what unfolds. Interesting times.
Uni party will demand Radcliffe come to congress as to why he went to Russia…they will want to impeach him next for Russia Russia Russia
Could also have something to do with warning Putin against any efforts at propping up what’s left of the Iranian regime.