CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Russian officials against escalating tensions with US allies in NATO during an unannounced visit to Moscow on Tuesday, Politico reported, citing sources familiar with the talks. The discussions focused primarily on Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Ratcliffe also called on Russia to limit its military and economic support for Iran, including supplies of weapons and defense technology. He warned Moscow against overreacting to sanctions related to Tehran.

The visit came amid intensified Russian and Ukrainian missile and drone attacks far behind the front lines. Moscow has also issued threats against NATO countries supporting Ukraine in recent weeks.

US President Donald Trump described Ratcliffe’s trip as "semi-routine" and dismissed speculation that its purpose was to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin not to test the alliance’s resolve. He did, however, acknowledge that the talks were related to efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

It was the first known visit to Moscow by the head of a US intelligence agency during Trump’s current term.

(Politico, bak)