Why CIA boss made secret trip to Moscow on military plane is ‘revealed as Trump’s top spy delivered ruthless warning’

DONALD Trump’s top spy flew to Moscow on a US military jet to deliver a ruthless warning to Vladimir Putin, according to reports. CIA boss John Ratcliffe touched down in the Russian capital abroad a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III before reportedly holding a hush-hush meeting with Russia’s intelligence chiefs. CIA boss John Ratcliffe reportedly delivered a ruthless warning to Vladimir Putin Credit: Reuters US Air Force C-17 RCH4555 makes unexplained Moscow landing after flying from Joint Base Andrews via Riga, Latvia Credit: East2West The high-stakes mission came amid mounting fears that Putin could test the resolve of Nato with a limited attack on an allied country. Sources briefed on the trip told The Wall Street Journal that Ratcliffe warned Russia not to attack Nato countries. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! But another account said Ratcliffe delivered a bleak reality check on Russia’s faltering war in Ukraine, the NYT reported. The CIA chief reportedly urged Moscow to cut its losses and strike a deal before the Kremlin’s military and economic position takes an even more brutal hit. Ratcliffe reportedly took his stark message directly to Aleksandr V. Bortnikov, head of Russia’s FSB security service. No threats of consequences were made if Putin ignored the warning and chose to continue fighting, officials said. The dramatic face-to-face meeting was Ratcliffe’s first publicly known trip to Moscow and came as the Kremlin’s grinding offensive in Ukraine continues to stall. Russian forces have suffered massive losses while making only limited battlefield gains, according to the assessment delivered by the CIA chief. Most read in The Sun Ratcliffe has previously claimed that the life expectancy of a Russian soldier on the frontline is less than 35 minutes. He also said Russia had gained only around one per cent of Ukraine’s territory during his first 18 months as CIA director, crediting Ukraine’s “mastery” of drone warfare. Putin could test Nato’s resolve with a limited attack on an allied country Credit: Getty A US motorcade emerging from the Kremlin during CIA chief’s Moscow visit Credit: East2West Before facing down the Kremlin, Ratcliffe reportedly spoke with his Ukrainian counterparts. He assured Kyiv he would be sounding out Moscow’s position – rather than making concessions on Ukraine’s behalf. His secretive channel with Bortnikov runs separately from negotiations being conducted by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Ukrainian officials have long viewed Witkoff and Kushner as too close to the Kremlin. Ratcliffe is seen as a potentially more neutral figure because of his hawkish stance towards Russia. The jaw-dropping journey began when a US Air Force C-17 flew from Riga, Latvia, into Moscow. Flight RCH4555 touched down at Vnukovo International Airport at around 10.04am local time after leaving Riga at roughly 8.50am. A diplomatic motorcade bearing American number plates and accompanied by police was then spotted tearing through the Russian capital. Donald Trump meanwhile dismissed the mission as ‘semi-routine’ Credit: AP The plane made the two-hour flight from Riga, Latvia Credit: East2West The giant Globemaster later left Russian airspace and was expected to return to Riga. Its arrival had triggered fevered speculation after Putin reportedly cleared his diary for a “major event”. Kremlin propagandist Alexander Yunashev claimed “a major event involving the president had been scheduled for this Tuesday” before being scrapped “a couple of days ago”. Putin did not meet Ratcliffe, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, although he was briefed on the talks. Asked about the mystery flight, Peskov said: “No, I don’t have that information.” Donald Trump meanwhile dismissed the mission as “semi-routine”, but hinted that something significant could emerge from the extraordinary encounter. “Something may come out of it,” Trump said. “We’re working very hard to get that war ended and frankly they both want to see it ended at this point.” The CIA and US government declined to provide further details about Ratcliffe’s meetings or the mysterious military flight. The critical encounter marks the latest attempt by Trump’s administration to breathe life into stalled efforts to end the bloody conflict. It also echoes a dramatic CIA mission in November 2021, when former director William Burns travelled to Moscow and warned Putin against launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ratcliffe and Bortnikov had already worked together behind the scenes on a prisoner swap after Trump returned to office. The CIA boss also helped broker the release of US-Russian ballerina Ksenia Karelina in April 2025. Comment now