CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Russia not to attack NATO during secretive trip - CBS News

CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Russia against attacking NATO member states during a secretive visit to Moscow this week, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, amid U.S. intelligence assessments that Russia could seek to test the alliance.
Ratcliffe also raised Iran during the trip, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic, sources told CBS News.
The visit—Ratcliffe's first known trip to Russia as CIA director—came to light Tuesday after a U.S. Air Force jet was spotted at a Moscow airport and a diplomatic motorcade was seen in the city. Ukraine was informed of the U.S. delegation and asked to pause strikes for the duration.
President Trump confirmed the trip in an interview with radio host Glenn Beck but described it as "semi-routine," saying it was not linked to Iran or Russian intentions toward NATO, while suggesting "something may come out of" it in relation to ending the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Ratcliffe met with Russian intelligence officials but not President Vladimir Putin, and on Thursday dismissed media reports about the trip's purpose as "scare stories" with "nothing to do with reality," accusing European countries of an aggressive policy toward Russia.
Recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicated Putin could authorize provocative actions on NATO territory, such as cyberattacks and hybrid operations falling short of conventional military action.