MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. The purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced talks in Moscow remains unclear, prompting several competing theories; Ukrainian attacks with British weapons could trigger retaliatory strikes on UK military facilities; and Switzerland could lift its sanctions on Russia if voters approve tighter neutrality rules. These stories topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta: CIA chief’s unannounced Moscow visit fuels speculation over Iran, NATO, Ukraine
Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergey Naryshkin commented on the mysterious visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, which has been sparking various interpretations for several days. The Russian intelligence chief’s comments essentially echoed what US President Donald Trump said on the matter: the visit was routine and work-related, while what was discussed during it was not something to be made public. The Western press alone has put forward numerous theories, some citing anonymous sources and others not, accompanied by everything from apocalyptic forecasts to predictions of imminent peace, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes.
The first theory suggests that the US economic war against Iran was discussed, including sanctions or other non-military measures against the Islamic Republic’s trading partners. Russia is one of them. Politico, citing anonymous sources, claimed that Ratcliffe urged Russia to reduce its economic and military-economic cooperation with Iran, apparently under threat of anti-Russian sanctions.
