CIA director John Ratcliffe visiting Russia, US media reports

WASHINGTON -– US Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe is visiting Moscow for meetings, US media said Aug 25 after flight data showed an American military aircraft flew to the Russian capital.CBS News quoted sources familiar with the situation as confirming Ratcliffe’s trip, saying it was his first known visit to Russia as CIA chief.Axios separately confirmed it, quoting a US official.There was no immediate comment from the CIA or the White House when contacted by AFP.Data from Flightradar24 earlier showed a US military C-17 travelling from the United States to Latvia and then on to Moscow.Ratcliffe’s reported visit comes as US-brokered talks aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have stalled.But Moscow earlier in August freed a former US Marine detained since 2022 amid concerns about his health.The Iran war is also a live issue between Washington and Tehran’s ally Moscow. AFP