CIA Chief Visits Moscow; Kremlin Confirms Contacts

On August 26, 2026, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow and held contacts with Russian intelligence services. Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was informed about the results of these contacts, but no meeting between Putin and Ratcliffe was planned. The Kremlin did not disclose the topics discussed, but Peskov stated that the visit's purpose was to maintain communication channels between the intelligence agencies. Additionally, Peskov commented that the US asked Ukraine not to strike Moscow and St. Petersburg during the CIA chief's visit. He also claimed that the Kyiv regime is collapsing from within and losing stability.