Trump downplays Moscow visit by CIA director as ‘semi-routine’

President denies visit was to gain support for Iran sanctions or due to fears that Putin plans to ‘test Nato resolve’

• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/aug/26/darline-graham-lindsey-south-carolina-gop-post-office-voting-senate-midterms-donald-trump-latest-news-updates">US politics live – latest updates

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump has downplayed a visit to Moscow by the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, as “semi-routine” after he turned up in the Russian capital unannounced, triggering a wave of speculation about the reasons for his trip.

Ratcliffe was https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cia-director-john-ratcliffe-russia-secret-trip/">reported to have flown to Moscow on a government transport plane on Tuesday in a rare visit after taking off from the Andrews air force base in Maryland.