John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow should be seen as a serious intervention rather than routine intelligence diplomacy, political analyst tells TVP World. Washington appears to be sending Moscow a message that pressure on NATO’s eastern flank has crossed a line after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare, unannounced visit to the Russian capital. Scott Lucas, professor of American studies at University College Dublin, told TVP World’s World Talks program that Ratcliffe’s trip should be seen as an unusually serious intervention rather than routine intelligence diplomacy. Warning beyond diplomacy “It’s not routine,” Lucas said, noting that the last known visit to Moscow by a CIA director came in November 2021, when William Burns warned the Kremlin against invading Ukraine. Ratcliffe met Russian intelligence officials but not President Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin. The Wall Street Journal and Politico reported that he warned Moscow against steps that could escalate tensions with NATO, particularly Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Lucas said the message came amid mounting concern over Russian sabotage and other hybrid operations in Europe. “You need to back off of this,” Lucas said, describing what he believes Washington’s message to Moscow was. Ukraine raises the cost The visit also came as Ukraine intensified long-range strikes inside Russia. A drone attack on Wednesday destroyed a Wildberries logistics warehouse in the Tambov region, according to the regional governor, who said two people were injured. Lucas argued that such attacks on logistics and economic infrastructure could increase pressure on the Kremlin and potentially give Washington more leverage in pushing Moscow toward talks based on freezing the current front line rather than accepting Russia’s maximum territorial demands. “Will Putin heed that? That's the huge question,” Lucas said.
Ratcliffe met Russian intelligence officials but not President Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin.
