Washington, August 27: U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed speculation surrounding CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced trip to Russia, labeling it “largely a semi-routine visit.” He acknowledged, however, that the trip could aid efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump made these remarks during an interview with conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck. Beck had questioned him about reports suggesting that the CIA chief departed for Russia in the middle of the night.
Beck referenced various speculations regarding the visit, including potential tests of NATO commitments by Russia and claims that the U.S. was delivering warnings related to sanctions on Iran.
In response, Trump stated, “Yes, but none of that is true.”
The President explained, “He went there for a kind of largely semi-routine work. I hate to disappoint people.”
Trump did not disclose when Ratcliffe arrived in Russia, whom he was meeting, or the precise purpose of his trip. He also did not mention how long the CIA director would remain in Russia.
Nevertheless, the President broadly linked this visit to his administration’s efforts aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
He remarked, “We want to see an end to the war with Ukraine.” Trump reiterated his claim that if he had been President at the time of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war would never have started.
He stated, “This is a war that would never have begun if I were in office. It is one of the negative outcomes that have arisen from my absence from power.”
Trump further commented, “You wouldn’t have the war in Ukraine, nor would 25 million people be coming into our country as if we were fools.”
He claimed that the number of people entering the U.S. was even higher and alleged that some of them had come from prisons or were involved in serious crimes.
Following this, Trump praised Ratcliffe again, saying, “John Ratcliffe is a terrific guy. He is the head of the CIA.”
Trump added, “And he didn’t go there for the reasons you mentioned.” However, he did not rule out the possibility that Ratcliffe’s visit could lead to diplomatic progress. Trump emphasized that his administration is making serious efforts to end the war and believes that both sides now want to conclude it.
He stated, “Perhaps this trip will yield some positive results. We are working very hard to end this war.” Trump concluded, “To be honest, both sides want an end to this conflict right now.”
The President did not provide any details about potential negotiations, conditions for ending the war, or whether Ratcliffe carried any specific messages on his behalf. The interview also did not clarify whether the CIA director’s meetings are part of broader diplomatic contacts between Washington and Moscow.
John Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas, previously served as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) during Trump’s first term.
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