Moscow: The Kremlin announced on Wednesday that a recent visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow involved interactions between security services. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters during a press briefing that there were engagements through special services during Ratcliffe's unannounced visit to the Russian capital.

According to Anadolu Agency, Flightradar24 data indicated that a US Air Force C-17A Globemaster III traveled from Riga, Latvia, to Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on Tuesday, following its arrival from Camp Springs, near Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The aircraft later departed Moscow and returned to Riga the same evening. Peskov, when questioned about reports of a US military plane landing in Moscow, stated that he had 'no such information.'

CBS News, citing sources knowledgeable about the situation, reported that Ratcliffe was in Moscow for meetings, while Axios, referencing a source, stated that Washington had informed Kyiv about the senior delegation's visit and requested Ukraine to hold off on strikes until the delegation's departure. Neither US authorities nor the CIA have commented on the visit.

Peskov further clarified that Ratcliffe did not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and refrained from providing details on the discussions between the security services. He mentioned that no presidential-level meetings between Moscow and Washington are currently scheduled and noted it is too early to discuss any potential impact of the visit on the strained Russia-US relations. However, he acknowledged that such interactions are a "positive phenomenon, a positive process."

This visit by the CIA director is the first of its kind since 2021, when then-CIA Director William Burns visited Moscow.