The Kremlin has refuted claims made by U.S. media regarding a potential Russian attack on a NATO member state and the purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s recent visit to Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports, stating that they are sensational and do not reflect the reality or intentions of the Russian Federation.
Peskov also mentioned that Ratcliffe did not have a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although Putin was informed about the visit. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that Ratcliffe conveyed a message warning Russia against any actions that could challenge NATO’s resolve by attacking a member state.
Earlier on the same day, Sergey Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service, disclosed that he had a “working-level meeting” with Ratcliffe to discuss sensitive matters within their intelligence services’ scope. Naryshkin emphasized that their meeting was routine.
President Donald Trump characterized Ratcliffe’s visit as “semi-routine,” with the last known CIA director’s visit occurring before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO has not officially commented on the visit, but concerns are rising among Russia’s neighboring NATO countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland, regarding potential security threats from Moscow.
Reports suggest that these countries are enhancing security around critical infrastructure due to fears of possible “false flag” attacks by Russia using Ukrainian drones. The Kremlin, labeling these reports as “scare stories,” denies any involvement in such activities and criticizes Western accusations without evidence.
Notably, mysterious drone sightings across Europe, including a recent incident in Germany where an explosive-carrying drone was found at Leipzig/Halle Airport, have raised suspicions. This airport serves as a NATO transportation hub, and German authorities described the event as a hybrid attack without attributing blame. Russia has dismissed allegations from German officials and media linking it to the incident.