The Kremlin has denied that there are any planned talks with US envoys this week, despite reports of CIA Director John Ratcliffe visiting Moscow for meetings. CBS News reported that Ratcliffe was in the Russian capital on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources. Axios confirmed the visit, marking the highest-level trip by a Trump administration official to Russia since January. The specific details of the meetings and participants were not disclosed, and the CIA declined to comment, according to Reuters.
The reports follow a US military transport aircraft's journey from Riga to Moscow, as tracked by flight-tracking websites. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated during a press briefing that there are no plans for talks between Moscow and US envoys this week, as negotiations regarding Russia-Ukraine peace remain stalled. Peskov also indicated he had no information regarding the US military plane that reportedly landed in Moscow on Tuesday morning.
Flight data showed a US military C-17 aircraft traveling from the US to Latvia before arriving in Moscow, having departed Riga airport at 05:50 GMT and landing at nearly 07:04 GMT. The plane believed to be carrying Ratcliffe later departed Moscow.
Ratcliffe's visit occurs amid stalled US-brokered talks aimed at resolving the conflict stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, Russia released a former US Marine detained since 2022 due to health concerns. Axios reported that Washington had informed Ukraine of the delegation's travel to Moscow in advance, requesting a suspension of strikes until the delegation's departure. Additionally, tensions between Washington and Moscow regarding the Iran war remain a significant issue. Ratcliffe has been involved in high-profile prisoner exchanges between the US and Russia since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, including the release of dual national Ksenia Karelina. If confirmed, this visit would be the first since then-CIA Director William Burns traveled to Moscow in 2021.