Russia's spy chief confirms CIA director visit to Moscow
Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), confirmed on Thursday that he met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe during Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow, according to statements reported by both the Jerusalem Post and TASS. Naryshkin described the encounter as a "working-level meeting" that took place earlier this week, though he did not specify the exact date.
Naryshkin told reporters on Tuesday that the meeting was nothing unusual. "During the meeting, we discussed a number of issues that fall within the purview of the intelligence services. And the purview of the intelligence services, as you well understand, is a rather delicate and special matter," he said, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post. TASS quoted him saying, "It took place; there was nothing out of the ordinary." He added that meetings between intelligence chiefs from different countries are routine affairs, whether held in person or online.
"Whether in person or online, such meetings are part of our work," Naryshkin said, according to the Jerusalem Post. TASS reported that he further emphasized he meets "practically every week" with intelligence chiefs from "every continent in the world," adding, "So the meeting with John Ratcliffe was also part of our regular work."
Ratcliffe visited the Russian capital on Tuesday, as reported by TASS. The visit comes amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and stalled efforts to reach a lasting peace between the United States and Iran, according to the Jerusalem Post.
US President Donald Trump described Ratcliffe's trip as "semi-routine" in an interview on the Glenn Beck Program on Wednesday. "He's there, you know, very sort of semi-routine. I hate to disappoint people," Trump said, as quoted by TASS. He also suggested that something may come of the visit, saying, "Now something may come ... out of it. We're working very hard to get that war ended," according to the Jerusalem Post.
The Kremlin has been tight-lipped about what was discussed during the meeting, the Jerusalem Post reported. Neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed a claim, cited by at least two US media outlets, that Ratcliffe warned Russia not to attack any NATO member state, according to the Jerusalem Post. Trump previously dismissed such reports, saying the visit was not related to rising tensions with NATO or the situation around Iran, TASS reported.