CIA Director Ratcliffe warns Russia not to attack NATO countries in unexpected visit: Reports

CIA Director John Ratcliffe's unexpected trip to Russia this week was reportedly to warn the country not to attack countries that are part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, sources told multiple news outlets on Wednesday.

Ratcliffe made his first known Russia trip on Tuesday after a U.S. Air Force jet was spotted flying into a Moscow airport and a diplomatic motorcade moved through the capital. Ukraine said it was notified of the visit, according to CBS News. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Russia that Ratcliffe spoke with intelligence officials in the country, but did not meet with President Vladimir Putin on the trip.

President Donald Trump also confirmed the overseas trip, claiming it was "semi-routine" in nature and maintained that it was not related to Iran or to Russian desires to test NATO. Sources told CBS that Ratcliffe had also mentioned Iran, stating that the United States would impose additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic.

Ratcliffe and the CIA have not commented on the trip so far. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.