CIA Director Held Covert Moscow Talks With Russian Intel Chiefs As Relations Sink Deeper Into "Crisis"

Aug 26, 2026 ·
CIA Director Held Covert Moscow Talks With Russian Intel Chiefs As Relations Sink Deeper Into "Crisis"

Summary: 

  • CIA Director Ratcliffe Met With Senior Russian intelligence officials, Not Putin
  • Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Says Meeting Focused On Repairing Bilateral US-Russia Relations In "Deep Crisis" 
  • CIA Director Ratcliffe On USAF Cargo Jet Flight To Moscow
  • US Air Force C-17 Makes Mysterious Visit To Moscow 

New Details On Ratcliffe's Trip To Moscow 

CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on a US Air Force C-17 transport jet on Tuesday morning for meetings with Russian intelligence officials, according to CBS News.

The outlet cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who confirmed Wednesday that Ratcliffe met with senior Russian intelligence officials but not President Vladimir Putin.

Putin was later briefed on the talks, according to Peskov, who cautioned that it was too early to determine whether the meeting could help pull bilateral US-Russian relations out of their "deep crisis."

The visit marks Ratcliffe's first known trip to Russia since becoming CIA director, though he has maintained contact with Russian intelligence counterparts, CBS noted.

CBS continued:

Ahead of his trip, the US told Ukrainian officials that a senior delegation would be traveling to Moscow and asked Kyiv to suspend strikes until the delegation's departure from Russia, according to a senior Ukrainian official.

The secretive trip comes as US-mediated peace talks remain stalled and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have stoked a refined-products crisis that is spreading worldwide in the form of diesel shortages. We must note the energy crisis has been compounded by tanker transit disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. 

CIA Director Ratcliffe On USAF Cargo Jet Flight To Moscow 

CBS News Senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs has provided some clarity on the mysterious US Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft that flew to Moscow earlier today.

Jacobs said, "Scoop: CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Russia aboard a C-17 for meetings in Moscow today, sources told @Olivia_Gazis @JimLaPorta and me. @CBSNews." 

US Air Force C-17 Makes Mysterious Visit To Moscow 

A US Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft landed at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport on Tuesday, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.

The C-17 arrived from Riga, Latvia, where it landed on Sunday, according to Flightradar24 data. Flight data show that the military transport plane was recently at Camp Springs, Maryland, home to Joint Base Andrews, which supports presidential and senior US government travel.

"An unusual visitor to Moscow this morning. A US Air Force C-17A Globemaster III flew from Riga to Moscow Vnukovo Airport," Flightradar24 wrote on X early Tuesday.

Flightradar24 shows the C-17's latest activity over the past seven days:

Russian business news website RBC confirmed that a US military transport aircraft had landed at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport.

Russian state-owned news agency TASS also reported that an "American Boeing C-17A Globemaster III military transport aircraft has reportedly landed in Moscow."

More from TASS:

A source within EU air traffic control authorities told TASS that the plane, having originally flown from Andrews Air Force Base to Latvia, had indeed continued its journey toward the Russian border. The source confirmed that the aircraft proceeded toward Russia's border after its stop in Riga. Additionally, the source noted that prior to this, the plane had also visited Charleston Airport.

There has been no official confirmation from the US about the C-17's landing in Moscow. The flight could indicate support for a senior US delegation, the transportation of diplomatic cargo or a prisoner transfer. Keep in mind that Joint Base Andrews is a major hub for US government and military missions.

Tyler Durden Wed, 08/26/2026 - 06:12