CIA Director Ratcliffe Makes Unannounced Trip to Moscow

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced trip to Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday to meet with Russian officials, according to sources familiar with the travel and reporting from CBS News and CNN.

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed that an American Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane landed at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport just after 10 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The aircraft had departed from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday afternoon before stopping in Riga, Latvia, prior to its arrival in Russia.

U.S. military officials, the White House, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and the Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the flight. The CIA declined to comment on the visit, and officials declined to share the substance or specific topics set for discussion.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that he did not have information about the U.S. aircraft when asked by reporters.

The secret mission marks Ratcliffe's first known trip to Russia as CIA director under President Donald Trump. His arrival coincides with stalled U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the newly announced U.S. strategic initiative "Operation Economic Outcast" aimed at isolating Iran, a key trade partner of Russia.

The CIA has previously engaged in direct diplomatic negotiations with Moscow, including facilitating high-profile detainee exchanges such as the April 2025 release of dual national Ksenia Karelina, as well as the 2024 releases of reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan. Former CIA Director William Burns also previously traveled to Moscow in November 2021 for senior-level talks.