Report: Washington asked Kyiv not to strike Moscow and St. Petersburg during CIA chief's visit
Ukrainian media report that the US asked Kyiv to temporarily refrain from striking Moscow and St. Petersburg amid a reported visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Russia. Sources in Ukrainian government circles confirmed the information.
Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reports, citing sources within Ukrainian government circles, that Washington asked Kyiv to temporarily hold off on strikes against Moscow and St. Petersburg. The request is linked to a reported visit to Russia by CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
US officials first reported Ratcliffe's arrival in Moscow, as initially disclosed by broadcaster CBS. News of the trip emerged after a US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft, along with a convoy of American diplomats, was spotted at a Moscow airport.
Suspilne's sources confirmed the request from the American side and clarified that, in addition to Moscow, the US also asked Ukraine not to strike St. Petersburg during the visit of the American delegation.
Previous visit took place in 2021
The last time a CIA director personally visited Russia was in November 2021, when then-director William Burns traveled to Moscow to warn the Kremlin at the highest level that the US was aware of preparations for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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