Russia confirms CIA chief's Moscow visit, calls it routine

Moscow has confirmed that the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergei Naryshkin, met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe earlier this week. Naryshkin described the encounter as a "standard working engagement," noting that such contacts between intelligence chiefs are not unusual.

"There is nothing unusual about that," Naryshkin said, adding that the two discussed matters within the purview of their respective agencies. He declined to elaborate, citing the sensitive nature of intelligence work.

The confirmation follows reports that a U.S. military aircraft landed at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Tuesday and departed the same day. The Kremlin acknowledged the visit on Wednesday, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that Ratcliffe held talks with Russian intelligence counterparts.

Peskov said Ratcliffe did not meet with President Vladimir Putin, though the Russian leader was kept informed of the discussions. "Of course, President Putin is immediately informed of everything," Peskov said, without disclosing the substance of the talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of the trip, describing it as "sort of semi-routine" during a radio interview. The visit comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Moscow over Russia's ongoing military operation in Ukraine.