CIA Director Reportedly in Moscow as Kremlin Denies Talks; US Asked Ukraine to Pause Strikes

CBS and The Washington Post reported CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow on August 25, 2026 — the first such trip since William Burns in 2021. Flight-tracking data showed a US military C-17 landing and departing Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Peskov denied planned talks and said he had no information about the aircraft. Axios reported Washington asked Ukraine to suspend strikes until the delegation left.