Kremlin denies reports CIA director warned Russia about attacking NATO countries
The Kremlin has denied reports that CIA Director Ratcliffe warned Russia against attacking NATO member states. Russian intelligence officials confirmed a meeting took place but characterized it as a routine working-level discussion.
Why it matters
The denial highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions and the fragile communication channels between the U.S. and Russia amidst the war in Ukraine.
Asked to comment on the reports, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, "A lot of this kind of scare-story material is being published right now. Of course, it has nothing to do with reality and nothing to do with the intentions of the Russian Federation."
Peskov said the previous day that Ratcliffe did not meet with Vladimir Putin, although the Russian president was aware of the visit.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report, late on Wednesday, that Ratcliffe delivered a message warning Russia off any plans to test the resolve of NATO by attacking a member state. The newspaper cited two people who had been briefed on the nature of the visit.
Kremlin confirms CIA director's meeting with Russian counterparts in Moscow
Ground zero: NATO’s drone war comes down to earth in Latvia
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