Lithuania has information about CIA chief’s Moscow visit, but will not disclose it

Lithuania knows what CIA Director John Ratcliffe discussed during his recent visit to Moscow, but Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas says the information will remain confidential.

“We have the information. It is definitely not for public use, and please do not be angry with me, I will certainly not disclose it,” Kaunas told reporters on Monday. He said the important point was that the meeting took place and that messages had been delivered.

Kaunas said the United States should act in the interests of security in the region, Ukraine and Europe. President Gitanas Nausėda had earlier said Lithuania was informed about the visit and that details of its contents would be provided during the week.

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We have the information. It is definitely not for public use, and please do not be angry with me, I will certainly not disclose it.

U.S. media reported last week that Ratcliffe had traveled to Moscow for meetings. The Wall Street Journal and CBS News said his goal was to persuade Russia not to attack NATO members, citing U.S. intelligence assessments that Moscow might want to test the alliance. The CIA declined to comment on the trip.

ABC News reported that Ratcliffe also mentioned Iran during the meetings. The Wall Street Journal said Russian President Vladimir Putin could test NATO in coming years through a “limited attack.” Axios, citing sources, reported that the United States asked Ukraine to halt strikes on Russia while Ratcliffe was in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told The Washington Post that Ratcliffe had gone to Moscow for contacts between security services.

The visit was probably Ratcliffe’s first to Moscow as CIA director. The last known visit by a CIA director to Russia took place in 2021, when William Burns traveled to Moscow and met Putin.

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limited attack