Secret CIA trip to Moscow: US intelligence warned Putin sees America as weakened

CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow for a secret meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Naryshkin. According to The Washington Post, the visit was prompted by intelligence indicating that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the United States has been weakened by its six-month war with Iran, leading to depleted military stockpiles. Sources familiar with the matter suggest Moscow views this as an opportunity to escalate actions against U.S. interests and European allies. During the talks, Ratcliffe reportedly warned Moscow that escalating the war in Ukraine would backfire and potentially push President Donald Trump closer to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The trip, conducted via an unmarked U.S. military aircraft from Latvia, was so sensitive that even some senior White House officials were reportedly kept in the dark. Despite the secrecy, two European officials briefed on the matter stated that Ratcliffe reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to NATO’s Article 5. On Thursday, President Trump told reporters he was not concerned about a potential Russian attack on NATO territory but declined to elaborate on the purpose of the CIA director's visit.