Trump Confirms CIA Director’s Moscow Trip, Calling It ‘Semi-Routine’

Aug. 26, 2026 U.S. President Donald Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. REUTERS / Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he had dispatched CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow the day before, expressing hope that the spy chief’s unannounced visit could help end the war in Ukraine. “Something may come out of it. We’re working very hard to get that war ended,” Trump told conservative radio host Glenn Beck in a telephone interview. His comments confirm reporting that Ratcliffe flew to Moscow, the first visit to Russia by a CIA chief since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, for a series of “meetings” on Tuesday. The Kremlin also later confirmed Ratcliffe’s visit, saying he had arrived for “contacts between security services.” The Kremlin did not provide further details, but stressed that Ratcliffe did not meet with President Vladimir Putin. Asked by Beck to address speculation surrounding the trip — ranging from warnings to the Kremlin against testing NATO resolve to discussions over Iranian sanctions — Trump responded: “None of the above.” “I hate to disappoint people,” the president said, seeking to temper expectations by describing Ratcliffe’s trip as “sort of semi-routine.” Trump has vowed to bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine, but has struggled to bring Moscow and Kyiv toward a compromise. Russian officials have repeatedly said in recent weeks that they also expect U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit in an effort to broker peace with Ukraine. “We would like to see the war with Ukraine end,” Trump told Beck. “Frankly, they both [Russia and Ukraine] want to see it ended at this point.” Read more about: United States , Trump , CIA 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 Offers to Take Control of Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants in Ceasefire Deal “If the United States owned them, that would offer the best protection for this infrastructure and support Ukraine’s energy needs,” the White House... 3 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 Vance Tells Zelensky U.S. Wants ‘Lasting’ Peace The talks in Munich were seen as a key moment for Kyiv as it tries to keep Washington on its side. 3 Min read The New Yorker's Latest Magazine Cover Features a Cartoon Putin and a Russian Title The magazine's usual patrician mascot has strangely transformed into Eustace Vladimirovich Tilley, a caricature of Russian President Vladimir Putin.