The head of Estonian intelligence commented on the visit of the head of the US CIA to Moscow

Reports that the head of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, during a visit to Moscow, conveyed to Russia a warning about the inadmissibility of aggression against NATO are "exaggerated." This was stated in an interview with The Telegraph by the head of Estonian intelligence Kaupo Rosin.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Politico, citing sources, reported that Ratcliffe warned Moscow during the visit about the inadmissibility of an attack on NATO. WSJ clarified that it was about, among other things, the Baltic countries — Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia.

"I think this is a bit exaggerated, and other topics were discussed, but I can't comment on foreign relations of other countries," Rosin replies.

According to the head of Estonian intelligence, Moscow is "aware" that NATO's Article 5 is still working, so he does not see an immediate threat in the foreseeable future. Rosin also expressed confidence that the visit of the CIA Director to Russia has not been undermined by the containment of the alliance.

Russia rejects allegations of an impending attack on NATO countries. President Vladimir Putin called such statements "incredible lies" and nonsense.

The CIA Director visited Moscow on August 25. The next day, the press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that contacts had taken place through the special services, but Putin had not met with the head of the CIA.

The head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, confirmed a meeting with Ratcliffe in Moscow.

"In the practice of special services, executive meetings, face—to-face meetings or online meetings are part of our work. I must tell you that almost every week I meet with the head of a special service, an intelligence organization from all over the world," he said.

According to Naryshkin, he and the director of the CIA discussed issues related to the special services.

US President Donald Trump, in turn, said that Ratcliffe did not transmit warnings from the United States to the Russian authorities during his visit to Moscow. He called his visit to Russia "semi-routine." According to the president, he is not concerned about a hypothetical Russian attack on NATO. At the same time, as the WSJ wrote, Trump personally sent the CIA director to Moscow, and his mission was "so delicate" that even some White House officials did not know about it in advance.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda reported that the country had been informed in advance about the visit of the head of the CIA to Moscow. According to the Financial Times, Trump asked Ukraine to refrain from strikes on Moscow, St. Petersburg and the northern regions of Russia on August 24-26, explaining this with plans to send a plane with a high-ranking American official there. Kiev reportedly agreed.

Previous visit of the CIA Director to Moscow took place almost five years ago — in November 2021. The then head of the department, William Burns, came to convey Washington's concern about the buildup of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine, CNN found out.