A trip by the head of American intelligence to Moscow was a response to new data about threats to Alliance countries.
Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe / © TSN
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a secret visit to Moscow to warn the Kremlin against a possible attack on NATO’s eastern flank. US intelligence warns that Russia may be preparing provocations against the Baltic states in the coming weeks. This move is reminiscent of events before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2021.
This is reported in an article by The Telegraph.
Ratcliffe’s rare visit to Moscow took place against the backdrop of a recent US intelligence assessment about a possible Russian attack on NATO’s eastern flank in the coming weeks. According to intelligence, Moscow may try to test the Alliance’s readiness to counter this.
Amidst the lack of significant breakthroughs by Russian forces on the front in Ukraine, US officials suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin may resort to limited escalation. Among possible scenarios, they mention a small land invasion, particularly into one of the Baltic countries, or large-scale cyberattacks against Eastern European nations.
Ratcliffe warned the Russian Federation against escalating actions regarding the Baltic states
According to sources from The Wall Street Journal and Politico, during his eight-hour stay in Moscow, Ratcliffe warned the Russian side against further exacerbating the situation with US NATO allies.
One source told Politico that Ratcliffe’s meeting was “primarily aimed at warning Russia against any escalatory actions concerning the Baltic states.” Additionally, according to the publication, the head of the CIA urged Moscow to reduce military and economic support for Iran.
The White House did not disclose details or the purpose of the trip. It took place at a time when the US-mediated peace process had effectively stalled, and civilian casualties in Ukraine continued to rise.
The previous visit of the CIA director to Moscow occurred in November 2021. At that time, William Burns personally warned the Russian leadership about the consequences of a possible attack on Ukraine. Just a few weeks later, Moscow launched a full-scale invasion.
Ratcliffe’s visit was related to the war in Ukraine
The Kremlin confirmed Ratcliffe’s presence in the Russian capital. He met with representatives of Russian special services there, but did not hold negotiations with Putin.
Ratcliffe is considered one of US President Donald Trump’s closest associates. The head of the White House himself tried to downplay the significance of the CIA director’s trip, calling it “semi-extraordinary.” At the same time, Trump made it clear that Ratcliffe’s visit was related to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Recall, US Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed hope that Ratcliffe, during his trip to Moscow, clearly warned Putin about the serious consequences and direct involvement of the United States in case of further escalation of the war. The senator emphasized that Washington must demonstrate to the Kremlin the futility of any attempts at escalation.
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