Moscow: CIA Director John Ratcliffe has reportedly arrived in Moscow aboard a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft and is holding meetings with senior Russian officials, according to US media reports.
This is reportedly Ratcliffe’s first visit to Russia since becoming CIA director. The trip had not been publicly announced in advance, with reports emerging only after the American military aircraft arrived in Moscow.
According to the information cited in the reports, the C-17 made stops at Charleston International Airport/Air Force Base and Riga, Latvia, before continuing towards Russian airspace. A source associated with European air-traffic-control authorities reportedly confirmed that the aircraft flew directly from Latvia towards Russian territory.
Kremlin initially said it had no information
The aircraft reportedly landed at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow. Earlier, Russian officials said they had no information about the aircraft or its arrival, while the US government also initially made no official statement about Ratcliffe’s trip.
The reports cited Flightradar24 data regarding the aircraft’s movement.
The visit is particularly notable because the US and its European allies have maintained sanctions and reciprocal air-traffic restrictions against Russia since the start of the Ukraine war.
The purpose of Ratcliffe’s reported Moscow meetings has not been officially disclosed in the information provided.
