Russian Spy Chief Says Meeting With CIA Director Was ‘Nothing Special’

Aug. 27, 2026 Russian Foreign Intelligence Service head Sergei Naryshkin. Sergei Kiselev / Moskva News Agency Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), confirmed Thursday that he met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Moscow earlier this week but otherwise sought to downplay the significance of the talks. “The meeting took place, and there’s nothing special about it,” Naryshkin told state media reporters two days after Ratcliffe’s rare and unannounced trip to Russia on Tuesday. Ratcliffe’s flight marks the first visit to Russia by a CIA chief since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Naryshkin said he and Ratcliffe discussed “a range of issues that fall within the scope of our intelligence services” as part of a “standard working format,” but did not provide further details. He described the work of intelligence agencies as “a delicate and special thing,” and noted that he meets with spy chiefs from other countries “almost every week, whether face-to-face or online.” Sources previously told The Wall Street Journal that Ratcliffe was sent to Moscow to warn Russia against attacking any NATO member state. Neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed the reporting. U.S. President Donald Trump has also sought to temper expectations from Ratcliffe’s Russia trip by calling it “sort of semi-routine.” Like Naryshkin, Trump declined to address speculation surrounding the CIA director’s trip, noting only that “something may come out of it,” referring to Ukraine peace negotiations, which have stalled since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February. On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia and the United States remain in contact on talks to end the war in Ukraine. He previously said that Ratcliffe did not meet with President Vladimir Putin this week. Ratcliffe and Naryshkin have maintained regular contact since he was appointed CIA chief in January 2025. Read more about: CIA , SVR , Naryshkin , United States Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Trump Confirms CIA Director’s Moscow Trip, Calling It ‘Semi-Routine’ The U.S. president expressed hope that the spy chief’s unannounced visit to Russia could help end the war in Ukraine. 2 Min read CIA Director Makes Rare Visit to Moscow The Kremlin said the purpose of John Ratcliffe’s trip to the Russian capital was for “contacts between security services.” 2 Min read Russian and U.S. Spy Chiefs Hold First Talks in Years, Agree to Regular Contact CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Sergei Naryshkin “agreed on regular contact” between their agencies to “contribute to international stability and... 1 Min read Russian Spy Chief Confirms Call With CIA Counterpart Foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin described Wagner's June 23-24 mutiny as a “pretext” for CIA director William Burns’ call. 1 Min read