CIA Director John Ratcliffe has made an unannounced visit to Moscow for talks with Russian intelligence officials, according to US media reports. This is believed to be his first trip to Russia since taking office.
Ratcliffe has maintained contact with his Russian counterparts and played a role in negotiations for the release of Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American citizen who was jailed in Russia for over a year on charges of supporting Ukraine.
The CIA was also involved in a 2024 prisoner swap with Russia that secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan, and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
US-Russia relations have been strained since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading to Russia's international isolation and economic sanctions.
Ratcliffe is one of the highest-ranking US officials to visit Russia during President Donald Trump's second term. Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska last year, but the meeting did not yield a breakthrough, and subsequent US-led peace talks between Russia and Ukraine appear to have stalled.
Additional reporting by BBC Verify.