CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a trip to Moscow earlier this week, with a primary objective of warning Russia against attacking NATO countries, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to ABC News. The director also raised the issue of Iran during his meetings in the Russian capital.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the specifics of the trip's agenda. The CIA has declined to comment on the visit.
President Donald Trump acknowledged Ratcliffe's presence in Moscow in an interview with Glenn Beck on Wednesday, characterizing the visit as "semi-routine." When questioned about whether the trip related to increased Russian aggression toward NATO or heightened economic pressure on Iran, Trump stated that these were not the reasons for the visit.
A spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Ratcliffe had been in contact with Russian intelligence agencies but stated that no meeting with Putin took place.