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2
Posted on 8/25/26 at 8:51 am to Decatur
Posted on 8/25/26 at 9:16 am to Decatur
Posted on 8/25/26 at 9:47 am to Decatur
Ratcliffe is a strong, active supporter of Ukraine, known to be a frequent golf partner of Trump's. The fact that he, the CIA Director, is physically visiting Moscow is very interesting. Now, where is Putin?
Posted on 8/25/26 at 9:58 am to Coeur du Tigre
Posted on 8/25/26 at 10:01 am to Coeur du Tigre
I think the last visit by a Dir of CIA was Bill Burns right before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 11:02 am to Decatur
He's clearly there at the Russian's invitation. The question is: which Russians? Ratcliffe would not go just because Putin wants a stage-managed PR show of having him there.
If an attempt at side-lining Putin is being made, they will want to measure how much support they can expect from the WH.
Also, unlike any other Trump Cabinet member or the Witkoff/Kushner clown show, the Ukrainians will trust Ratcliffe.
Again, where is Putin? So far, no official Russian government welcome or even statement.
If an attempt at side-lining Putin is being made, they will want to measure how much support they can expect from the WH.
Also, unlike any other Trump Cabinet member or the Witkoff/Kushner clown show, the Ukrainians will trust Ratcliffe.
Again, where is Putin? So far, no official Russian government welcome or even statement.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 11:04 am to Decatur
You don't need the CIA director physically there for prisoner swaps.
Russia obviously has their hands full in Ukraine, I don't see them opening another front or the whole "they are going to attack NATO" LARP again.
If I had to guess it's something to do with Russian intelligence sharing with Iran. We will pobably use potential Starlink access to further hit Russia as a bargaining chip (though that seems like something Musk himself just doesn't want to do, not something the Trump admin is forcing his hand on).
Russia obviously has their hands full in Ukraine, I don't see them opening another front or the whole "they are going to attack NATO" LARP again.
If I had to guess it's something to do with Russian intelligence sharing with Iran. We will pobably use potential Starlink access to further hit Russia as a bargaining chip (though that seems like something Musk himself just doesn't want to do, not something the Trump admin is forcing his hand on).
Posted on 8/25/26 at 11:05 am to Coeur du Tigre
My best guess right now is this could have to do with the current Russian sabotage campaign in Europe.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 11:07 am to Coeur du Tigre
Yeah I'm sure US state department vehicles are rolling openly through Moscow right now because they are going to meet with some faction that's overthrowing Putin 
It's far more likely if anything is happening with Putin that he's just dead.
It's far more likely if anything is happening with Putin that he's just dead.
This post was edited on 8/25/26 at 11:09 am
Posted on 8/25/26 at 12:51 pm to VolSquatch
quote:
I don't see them opening another front or the whole "they are going to attack NATO" LARP again.
I agree, there is absolutely no chance that Russia will attack a NATO member, that would be suicide for Russia.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 12:58 pm to Chromdome35
Ratcliffe has already departed. A Russian government plane nearby also took off shortly afterwards.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 1:49 pm to VolSquatch
It's all just speculation, but my guess is that there were 2 possible reasons for his visit to Russia
1) Something to do with Iran and the assistance Russia has been providing
2) Something to do with intelligence we have on some upcoming escalation in Ukraine or Europe. The US was all over Russia's run-up to the Ukraine war. It was pretty clear we were reading their mail.
1) Something to do with Iran and the assistance Russia has been providing
2) Something to do with intelligence we have on some upcoming escalation in Ukraine or Europe. The US was all over Russia's run-up to the Ukraine war. It was pretty clear we were reading their mail.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 2:25 pm to Chromdome35
Posted on 8/25/26 at 2:39 pm to VolSquatch
It’s obvious that Ukraine is slowly losing ground. If this continues Ukraine would eventually lose. I think we all know that.
The question is can Ukraine keep the current level of resistance, and if so can Russia go the distance while their economy suffers?
The question is can Ukraine keep the current level of resistance, and if so can Russia go the distance while their economy suffers?
Posted on 8/25/26 at 3:34 pm to doubleb
quote:
If this continues Ukraine would eventually lose. I think we all know that.
Do we?
Posted on 8/25/26 at 4:34 pm to cypher
WSJ learns likely reason for CIA director’s visit to Moscow
Iryna Kutielieva, Tetyana Oliynyk — 25 August, 21:04
CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Russia because US intelligence had gathered information indicating that Moscow was making early preparations for a possible military mobilisation.
Source: European Pravda, citing The Wall Street Journal
Details: WSJ reported that the US had collected intelligence showing that Russia was making early preparations for a possible military mobilisation for its war against Ukraine and had plans to test NATO's resolve.
Analysts have suggested that Ratcliffe may have met with Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin to deliver a warning.
Ukrainska Pravda
Iryna Kutielieva, Tetyana Oliynyk — 25 August, 21:04
CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Russia because US intelligence had gathered information indicating that Moscow was making early preparations for a possible military mobilisation.
Source: European Pravda, citing The Wall Street Journal
Details: WSJ reported that the US had collected intelligence showing that Russia was making early preparations for a possible military mobilisation for its war against Ukraine and had plans to test NATO's resolve.
Analysts have suggested that Ratcliffe may have met with Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin to deliver a warning.
Ukrainska Pravda
Posted on 8/25/26 at 4:47 pm to cypher
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