CIA chief's confusing Moscow trip reminds us of the corners Trump and Putin are in
CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently made a surprise trip to Moscow to meet with Russian intelligence officials. Media reports offer conflicting accounts regarding the purpose of the visit, ranging from discussing the Ukraine war to intelligence sharing.
Why it matters
The meeting highlights the complex and opaque nature of US-Russia diplomatic and intelligence relations during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Donald Trump came back to the White House claiming to have a good relationship with Vladimir Putin, vowing to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. ( Reuters: Evan Vucci )
Link copied Share Share article Remember the Central Intelligence Agency? The US intelligence agency which once seemed to wander the world creating wars and instability and inspiring countless thrillers?
You don't seem to hear so much about the CIA these days. Who needs a bunch of shadowy spooks to create world chaos when you have the US president doing it all by himself?
But the CIA has been back in the headlines this week after it was revealed its director, John Ratcliffe, had just made a trip to Moscow, variously described in US media as "mysterious" or "a surprise", to talk to his Russian counterparts.
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