Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe made an unscheduled, unannounced visit to Moscow on Tuesday for talks with Russian officials, with both capitals remaining tight-lipped on purpose of the trip. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 26 (UPI) -- CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a unannounced stop in Moscow for around eight-and-a-half hours with flight tracking data showing a U.S. government transport aircraft making a return flight to the Russian capital, via Latvia, from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
The trip by chief of the United States' top spy agency was confirmed by U.S. sources who told The Washington Post, CBS News and CNN that Ratcliffe held talks with Russian counterparts on Tuesday -- but declined to provide further details.
Neither the CIA, Defense Department, Air Force or White House would comment but The Washington Post said it had geolocated footage of a motorcade circulating on the Internet to central Moscow's New Arbat Avenue.
It said the vehicles were moving eastwards near offices belonging to the Russian military and that they had red diplomatic license plates.
