WASHINGTON/MOSCOW – US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe is in Moscow for meetings, CBS News reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the situation.
The visit appears to be Ratcliffe's first known trip to Russia as CIA director, though he has maintained contact with his Russian intelligence counterparts, according to the report.
Ratcliffe's visit comes as US-mediated efforts to end the Ukraine crisis remain largely stalled, with Moscow and Kyiv still far apart on key issues.
Neither Washington nor Moscow has so far confirmed Ratcliffe's visit.
Kremlin: NATO troops in Ukraine unacceptable
Also on Tuesday, Russia considers the presence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization military contingents in Ukraine inadmissible, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
"We have repeatedly stated our position at various levels that the deployment of foreign military contingents of NATO member states in Ukraine is unacceptable for us," he said.
On Monday, leaders of the Coalition of the Willing held a virtual meeting in Kyiv to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. It was chaired by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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The coalition said in a statement that it would continue to prepare the Multinational-Force Ukraine to deploy once a credible cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine was in place.
Peskov added that Russia is confident in its victory and continues military actions in the absence of conditions for a peaceful settlement. "I can assure you, we are not just counting on it, we are confident that this victory will come," he said.
Russia rejects French claims of cyberattacks, poll interference
Meanwhile, Russia rejects allegations of cyberattacks and interference in France's upcoming presidential election, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.
Zakharova described the claims as unfounded and politically motivated. "We see that for many candidates the race for the presidency includes, as an element of their 'mandatory program,' making loud statements about fighting the 'Russian threat,'" she added.
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The allegations come from the French government agency Viginum, which counters foreign election interference. This summer, it identified several disinformation attacks, which were attributed to "pro-Russian" networks.
On July 17, Russian Charge d'Affaires Alexander Zezyulin was summoned to the French Foreign Ministry, where he also denied the accusations, describing them as unfounded and unsubstantiated.
