Why Is Trump’s spy chief in Moscow? What is CIA boss Ratcliffe doing behind Russia’s closed doors?

CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly traveled to Moscow on August 25 for meetings with Russian officials, according to multiple reports. The mystery visit comes as U.S.-Russia contacts intensify under President Donald Trump amid stalled Ukraine peace talks. Reports say Washington even asked Ukraine to avoid strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg during Ratcliffe’s visit, raising questions about the sensitivity of his mission. Who was Ratcliffe meeting? Was he in contact with Russia’s intelligence leadership? And could the trip signal a new backchannel between Washington and Moscow? Here’s what we know about the CIA chief’s reported Moscow mission and its implications for the Ukraine war.