Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Ratcliffe’s Secret Moscow Mission Pressed Russia on Ukraine, NATO
John Ratcliffe, the head of the CIA, secretly traveled to Moscow.
President Donald Trump reportedly sent him to speak with Russian officials.
Ratcliffe discussed ways to restart talks to end the war in Ukraine.
He reportedly warned that continuing the war could make Russia’s military and economy weaker.
He also said the United States still supports NATO’s promise to defend any member that is attacked.
Some American and European officials worry that Russia might test NATO in the future.
They also say Russia has used cyberattacks, drones, and other actions against European countries.
Russia’s government said reports of a planned NATO attack were not real.
Trump also said he did not expect Russia to attack NATO territory.
Ratcliffe discussed Iran and possible sanctions during the trip as well.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly traveled secretly to Moscow on President Donald Trump’s direction.
Ratcliffe urged Russian officials to restart Ukraine negotiations and warned of worsening military and economic pressures.
Reports said he reaffirmed Washington’s NATO security commitments and cautioned against any attack on a member state.
He also discussed Russia’s cooperation with Iran and possible additional sanctions linked to Strait of Hormuz shipping.
The Kremlin and Trump denied or rejected reports that Russia planned to attack NATO territory.
- Who
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Russian intelligence officials, President Donald Trump, and U.S. and European officials.
- What
- Ratcliffe reportedly made a secret Moscow visit to deliver Trump’s message, discuss Ukraine negotiations, reaffirm NATO commitments, and address Russia’s cooperation with Iran.
- When
- Ratcliffe traveled on Tuesday, August 25; Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergei Naryshkin confirmed a meeting on Thursday.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia; Ratcliffe reportedly flew there from Latvia aboard an unmarked U.S. C-17 military transport aircraft.
- Why
- The trip followed unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to stop the Ukraine war and aimed to encourage negotiations while warning Russia against threatening NATO members.
Reported Security Concerns
Official Denials and Reassurance
Potential Russian threat to NATO
Reported Security Concerns
U.S. and European intelligence assessments reportedly warn that Russia could test NATO within several years. European officials also cited drones, cyberattacks, missiles, and explosive-filled packages as part of an expanding hybrid campaign.
Official Denials and Reassurance
The Kremlin said media reports about a possible Russian attack on NATO had nothing to do with reality. Trump said he did not expect Vladimir Putin to attack NATO territory, and Latvia’s prime minister said the direct invasion threat to Latvia was currently low.
War’s direction and negotiations
Reported Security Concerns
Reports said Ratcliffe gave Russian officials a bleak assessment and urged Moscow to negotiate before military and economic pressures worsened. U.S. and European officials said Putin still seeks control of Ukraine.
Official Denials and Reassurance
The reports said the Kremlin has continued demanding control over Crimea and the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, while previous diplomatic efforts failed to produce a final agreement.
Nature of the Moscow trip
Reported Security Concerns
U.S. officials described the mission as a highly sensitive diplomatic effort ordered by Trump, with some senior White House officials reportedly unaware beforehand.
Official Denials and Reassurance
The White House referred to Trump’s description of the journey as “semi-routine,” and the Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment publicly.
- Visiting official
- John Ratcliffe, director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
- Reported directive
- U.S. officials said President Donald Trump personally sent Ratcliffe and limited advance knowledge of the mission.
- Russian contacts
- Ratcliffe reportedly met Federal Security Service chief Aleksandr V. Bortnikov and held a working-level meeting with Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergei Naryshkin.
- Ukraine message
- Ratcliffe urged Russian officials to resume or pursue negotiations to end the war with Ukraine.
- NATO warning
- European officials said Ratcliffe reiterated Washington’s commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization Article 5 and warned against attacking a member state.
- Iran discussion
- Ratcliffe reportedly urged Russia to reduce economic and security cooperation with Iran and discussed possible additional sanctions if Strait of Hormuz shipping did not resume.
- Official responses
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called reports of a planned NATO attack scare stories, while Trump said Russia would not attack NATO territory.
