CIA chief in Moscow for unannounced talks, US media reports
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has arrived in Moscow for unannounced talks, marking a rare high-level diplomatic engagement between the US and Russia. The purpose of the visit remains unconfirmed, though it follows previous intelligence-led negotiations regarding prisoner swaps.
Why it matters
Direct communication between US and Russian intelligence heads is significant given the ongoing tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, John Ratcliffe reportedly travelled to the Russian capital on board a military plane on Tuesday
The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has travelled to Moscow for unannounced talks, the BBC's US news partner CBS has reported.
John Ratcliffe reportedly arrived in the Russian capital earlier on Tuesday. Neither Washington or Moscow have confirmed the nature of the visit or who he was due to meet.
In-person talks between high-level American and Russian officials are rare.
BBC News has contacted the CIA, the White House and Pentagon for comment.
Flight tracking data confirmed a large US military aircraft travelled to Russia from the US via Latvia on Tuesday.
Footage posted on social media showed the C-17 transport plane approaching Moscow's Vnukovo international airport.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in