CIA chief secretly went to Moscow to warn Russia off NATO

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a secretive trip to Moscow this week to warn Russian intelligence officials not to test NATO. The warning stemmed from U.S. intelligence concerns that Vladimir Putin might use cyberattacks or hybrid operations, rather than a conventional strike, to probe the alliance’s resolve. According to the Kremlin’s spokesman, Ratcliffe met with Russian intelligence counterparts but did not meet with Putin himself.

Ratcliffe also pressed Russia regarding Iran, warning that the U.S. is prepared to impose additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened to normal shipping traffic. President Trump publicly downplayed the visit as “semi-routine,” tying it to his broader push to end the Russia-Ukraine war while denying that it involved Iran or testing NATO. Meanwhile, the Kremlin dismissed reports about the trip as “scare stories” and accused European governments of aggressive policies.