Kremlin dismisses US media ‘scare stories’ on CIA chief’s Moscow visit

MOSCOW

This file photo shows CIA Director Ratcliffe at a press conference.

The Kremlin Aug. 27 dismissed media speculation on the rare visit of the CIA director to Moscow earlier this week, after reports said U.S. intelligence chief John Ratcliffe warned Russia against attacking NATO.

“A lot of such scare stories are being published right now. Of course, they have nothing to do with reality,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, adding that Russia “is facing a very aggressive policy towards itself from European countries.”

Peskov’s remarks came after U.S. media reported on Aug. 26 that CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit was to warn Russia against any attack on NATO member states, after President Donald Trump sought to downplay the visit.

The Wall Street Journal and CBS News reported Ratcliffe aimed to dissuade Russia from attacking NATO members amid U.S. intelligence assessments that Moscow could seek to test the alliance.

The Journal specified that Putin could test NATO with a “limited assault” in the next few years.

Trump said Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow on Aug. 25 was “semi-routine,” implying that the intelligence chief was in the Russian capital to discuss the Ukraine war.

“He’s there, very sort of semi-routine. I hate to disappoint people. We would like to see the war with Ukraine end,” Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck.

Ratcliffe is one of the highest-ranking U.S. officials to visit Russia since its war with Ukraine started in 2022.

His visit came amid an escalation in Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, with attacks this summer increasing the civilian death toll, while U.S.-brokered peace talks have stalled.

During his visit, Ratcliffe also discussed the war with Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t reopen to shipping traffic, CBS News reported, citing multiple people familiar with the matter.