DONALD Trump’s top spy flew to Moscow on a US military jet to deliver a ruthless warning to Vladimir Putin, according to reports.
CIA boss John Ratcliffe touched down in the Russian capital on board a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III before reportedly holding a hush-hush meeting with Russia’s intelligence chiefs.
The high-stakes mission came amid mounting fears that Putin could test the resolve of Nato with a limited attack on an allied country.
Sources briefed on the trip told The Wall Street Journal that Ratcliffe warned Russia not to attack Nato countries.
But another account said Ratcliffe delivered a bleak reality check on Russia’s faltering war in Ukraine, the NYT reported.
The CIA chief reportedly urged Moscow to cut its losses and strike a deal before the Kremlin’s military and economic position takes an even more brutal hit.
Ratcliffe reportedly took his stark message directly to Aleksandr V. Bortnikov, head of Russia’s FSB security service.
No threats of consequences were made if Putin ignored the warning and chose to continue fighting, officials said.
The dramatic face-to-face meeting was Ratcliffe’s first publicly known trip to Moscow and came as the Kremlin’s grinding offensive in Ukraine continues to stall.
Russian forces have suffered massive losses while making only limited battlefield gains, according to the assessment delivered by the CIA chief.
Ratcliffe has previously claimed that the life expectancy of a Russian soldier on the frontline is less than 35 minutes.
He also said Russia had gained only around one per cent of Ukraine’s territory during his first 18 months as CIA director, crediting Ukraine’s “mastery” of drone warfare.
Before facing down the Kremlin, Ratcliffe reportedly spoke with his Ukrainian counterparts.
He assured Kyiv he would be sounding out Moscow’s position – rather than making concessions on Ukraine’s behalf.
His secretive channel with Bortnikov runs separately from negotiations being conducted by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Ukrainian officials have long viewed Witkoff and Kushner as too close to the Kremlin.
Ratcliffe is seen as a potentially more neutral figure because of his hawkish stance towards Russia.
The jaw-dropping journey began when a US Air Force C-17 flew from Riga, Latvia, into Moscow.
Flight RCH4555 touched down at Vnukovo International Airport at around 10.04am local time after leaving Riga at roughly 8.50am.
A diplomatic motorcade bearing American number plates and accompanied by police was then spotted tearing through the Russian capital.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/16909728/cia-boss-secret-moscow-trip-revealed/