Trump Calls Ratcliffe's Moscow Trip Semi-Routine as Kremlin Says He Met Officials, Not Putin
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 26
Trump Calls Ratcliffe's Moscow Trip Semi-Routine as Kremlin Says He Met Officials, Not Putin
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 26
Summary
Trump said CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced trip to Moscow this week was “semi-routine,” seeking to calm speculation after reports of the visit surfaced.
Flight-tracking data first exposed the US government jet’s trip, and the Kremlin later confirmed the meeting while saying Ratcliffe did not hold talks with Vladimir Putin, who was only briefed on it.
Trump rejected suggestions the visit was tied to a looming Russian test of NATO resolve, saying Ratcliffe was not in Moscow for the scenarios being discussed publicly.
He left open that the trip could still produce results, adding the administration was working hard to end the war in Ukraine.