Trump calls CIA director’s trip to Russia ‘semi-routine’

President Trump referred to CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s trip to Russia this week as “semi-routine” after the Kremlin confirmed Ratcliffe was in the country to meet intelligence officials.

“I hate to disappoint people,” Trump told conservative talks show host Glenn Beck on Wednesday.

“John Ratcliffe is a fantastic guy. He’s the head of the CIA, and he is not in there for any of the things you said,” he continued, referring to Beck noting there is speculation that Ratcliffe’s visit could test NATO resolve.

“Now something may come out, you know, out of it,” he said. “Frankly, they both want to see it ended at this point,” he said, referring to Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Ratcliffe held talks with his Russian intelligence counterparts in Moscow this week, but did not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Of course, President Putin is immediately informed of everything,” Peskov said, according to The Associated Press.

The visit is Ratcliffe’s first known trip to Russia since being confirmed as the CIA director in 2025.

The Trump administration asked Ukrainian officials last week not to strike Moscow, St. Petersburg and northern regions of the country with its long-range drones and missiles Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday because the U.S. was sending a senior official to Moscow, Financial Times reported .