The article notes that the visit took place precisely at a time when the US is still making efforts to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine and end the war in Iran, although its official purpose is not yet known.
“It could have been a message of this kind: ‘We know what you are planning to do, and you better not do it,’” said former US National Intelligence Director Deputy for Intelligence Operations Integration Beth Sanner.
According to her, the visit may also be related to a ceasefire between the US and Iran and involving the other country in negotiations. She added that J. Ratcliffe may also have raised the issue of Kremlin support for Iran.
“The Wall Street Journal” recalls that during President Joe Biden’s administration, then CIA Director William Burns, who was previously the US ambassador to Russia, visited Moscow in November 2021. Based on US intelligence about Russia’s plans to launch an offensive, he warned V. Putin that an invasion of Ukraine was unacceptable.
In March 2025, shortly after D. Trump’s inauguration, J. Ratcliffe and Russian Foreign Intelligence Service head Sergey Naryshkin held their first phone conversation, during which they “discussed cooperation issues… in areas relevant to both countries.”
They also promised to maintain regular contact to ensure stability in both countries and reduce mutual confrontation.
A warning to Putin?
American journalist and analyst Michael Weiss also linked J. Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow with a warning to Russia about possible escalation against Europe and NATO.
“If I had to guess, I would say Ratcliffe is in Moscow to deliver a warning about possible Russian escalation against Europe and NATO. This may be related to US intelligence shared with Poland, the Baltic states, and Scandinavia,” he wrote on the social network X.
The journalist noted that the trip takes place at a time when likely Russian military intelligence (GRU) agent sabotage operations are increasingly active across Europe and Russian drone activity is intensifying in Europe, especially in Germany, Bulgaria, and Romania.
M. Weiss also noted that CIA director involvement is not necessarily required for prisoner exchange negotiations.
In his assessment, J. Ratcliffe is one of the most Ukraine-friendly representatives of the Donald Trump administration and is involved in decisions regarding support for Ukraine, especially related to long-range strikes.
However, not all experts believe this visit is exceptionally significant.
Rustam Churyakov, CEO of the Moscow-based intelligence research center “Laboratory Intelligence Express,” told The Wall Street Journal that although the US has supported Ukraine since the beginning of the war, and from Russia’s state perspective it is an adversary, “colleagues from such intelligence agencies can discuss many issues more freely than politicians.”
“Many problems have accumulated between Russia and the US, and it’s not just Ukraine, but also Latin America, Iran, China,” he noted.
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