Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
US President Donald Trump has played down the mystery surrounding CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s surprise trip to Moscow, describing the unusual visit as “semi-routine” even as speculation swirls over what prompted the senior US intelligence chief to meet Russian intelligence officials.
Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow on Tuesday aboard a US military aircraft and left the country only hours later. The CIA, White House and Pentagon have not publicly disclosed details of his visit, leaving questions about whether the talks were linked to the stalled efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine or broader tensions between Washington and Moscow.
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Trump, speaking to conservative talk show host Glenn Beck on Wednesday, acknowledged the speculation surrounding Ratcliffe’s trip but dismissed what he described as inaccurate rumours.
“I hate to disappoint people,” Trump said, calling the visit “semi-routine”.
He added that Washington “would like to see the war in Ukraine end” and said that “something may come out of” the meeting, without providing details about what was discussed.
KREMLIN CONFIRMS INTELLIGENCE CONTACTS
The Kremlin confirmed that Ratcliffe held discussions with Russian intelligence officials but said he did not meet President Vladimir Putin.
“There were contacts with the intelligence services,” Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“There were no meetings with the president of Russia. That’s all I can say on the subject. Naturally, President Putin is briefed immediately about everything,” he added. Peskov was responding to a question from a reporter whether Putin had been informed about the CIA director’s meetings and at what level the discussions were held.
Peskov nevertheless described intelligence contacts between the two countries as “a positive phenomenon, a positive process”, saying such communication can continue “even during the most difficult moments” in bilateral relations.
WHY WAS RATCLIFFE SENT TO MOSCOW?
The timing and secrecy of Ratcliffe’s visit have fuelled speculation about its purpose. Analysts told the BBC that one possibility was that the CIA chief travelled to Moscow to deliver a blunt warning over Russia’s alleged non-conventional warfare campaign targeting Nato countries.
Russia experts, however, said it remained unclear whether Moscow would heed such a warning.
The trip was Ratcliffe’s first known visit to Russia since Trump began his second term. Despite the deep tensions caused by the war in Ukraine, Washington and Moscow have continued to maintain direct channels on intelligence and security matters.
Ahead of Ratcliffe’s arrival, the US reportedly informed Ukraine that a senior delegation would travel to Moscow and asked Kyiv to suspend strikes until the delegation had left, according to a senior Ukrainian official cited by CBS.
A TRIP WITH A SIGNIFICANT PRECEDENT
The visit is notable because it is only the second time in recent years that a CIA director has travelled to Moscow. In November 2021, then-CIA Director William Burns visited Russia and warned the Kremlin against sending troops into Ukraine. Within months, Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Since then, relations between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated sharply, with Russia facing sweeping sanctions and diplomatic isolation over the war.
Russia has also increased military pressure on Nato allies over the past year, including reported drone and military aircraft incursions involving Poland, Romania and Latvia. Trump held a summit with Putin in Alaska last year, but the meeting failed to produce a breakthrough. Subsequent US-led efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine have also appeared to stall.
At this point, however, Washington and Moscow are keeping the substance of the talks under wraps. Trump has suggested the meeting could produce results, while the Kremlin has confirmed only that intelligence contacts took place — leaving the central question unanswered: why did the CIA chief need to make a surprise trip to Moscow at this particular moment?
– Ends
With inputs from agencies
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
