CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday and met with Russian intelligence officials, according to The Wall Street Journal. He conveyed a warning that Russia should refrain from attacking NATO member states, the newspaper reported.

European officials have expressed concern that Russia may test NATO resolve by striking an allied country, while ongoing fighting in Ukraine has intensified with repeated missile and drone attacks on both sides. Recent assessments from U.S. intelligence indicate Russia could conduct limited strikes against NATO members, a possibility highlighted in a recent Wall Street Journal report.

Ratcliffe did not meet directly with President Vladimir Putin, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the director’s talks were briefed to the president. The visit followed a U.S. intelligence assessment that Russia might conduct a limited assault on a NATO ally within the next few years, the newspaper noted. U.S. officials also said they are worried about potential cyber or small‑scale land incursions against Baltic states.

On August 1, a drone equipped with explosives resembling those used by Russia’s military intelligence service was discovered near a cargo aircraft at Leipzig airport in Germany, according to ABC News and a U.S. intelligence source. The assessment was made jointly with German security agencies.

Bloomberg reported that Kremlin insiders say Russia is considering intensified conventional attacks on Kyiv, including strikes on the capital’s center and other cities, after diplomatic efforts have stalled. Some sources said the Kremlin is also weighing the use of tactical nuclear weapons, though no official decision has been announced.

President Donald Trump described the Moscow trip as “semi‑routine,” a characterization that contrasts with the rarity of a CIA director’s visit to the Russian capital. The White House reiterated its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine war, stating that the United States will continue to play a constructive role in negotiations. It remains unclear what specific message Ratcliffe delivered or how Russia will respond.