CIA chief warned Russia of economic hardship, urged peace

CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow to warn Russia about its economic struggles and its standing in the Ukraine war, according to U.S. officials cited by The New York Times.

Ratcliffe urged Russian officials to seek peace quickly, emphasizing that the country's situation would deteriorate further if it delayed. He also advised against sharing intelligence with Iran, as reported by NBC.

Sources within the intelligence community have expressed doubts about the accuracy of information reaching Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war's progress. Ratcliffe's counterpart in Russia was Aleksandr Bortnikov, head of the FSB. Ratcliffe did not meet with Putin during this trip.

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He urged Russia to make peace soon, before Russia's situation worsens further.

Earlier reports indicated Ratcliffe had warned Russia against invading Baltic states. Before his Moscow visit, he met with Ukrainian intelligence leaders, assuring them he would not make concessions on their behalf. Ukrainian officials reportedly view Ratcliffe as more trustworthy than other Trump administration representatives.

This trip marked Ratcliffe's first publicly known visit to Russia as CIA chief, a position he assumed last year. The last known visit by a CIA director to Moscow was in 2021, when William Burns warned Russia against invading Ukraine.

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Ratcliffe also urged Russia not to share intelligence information with Iran.