CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly made a secret visit to Moscow on Tuesday, arriving on a U.S. military transport plane that had departed from Joint Base Andrews. The C-17 aircraft made a stop in Latvia before continuing to the Russian capital.
The Pentagon and White House initially declined to comment on the flight or its passenger. However, CBS News and Axios reported that Ratcliffe was aboard the plane.
Ratcliffe is described as one of President Donald Trump’s most trusted advisers and has been involved in discussions regarding potential conflicts with Iran. The specific agenda for his discussions with Russian leaders in Moscow remains unclear. Efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war have been primarily managed by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.