conflictTuesday, August 25, 20268 sources

Ukraine Halts Strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg During CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s Visit to Russia

Ukraine temporarily suspended strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg during CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Russia. US officials requested this pause, marking the first known trip by a US spy chief to Russia since November 2021. The decision followed a request from Washington to Kyiv to avoid attacks on Russian territories during the visit.

Ukraine halted strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg during CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Russia, as confirmed by multiple Ukrainian and international outlets. US officials contacted Kyiv last week, requesting a temporary pause in attacks on Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and northern regions of Russia. The Kyiv Independent reported that a source suggested the US did not believe in the strength of Putin’s air defenses, while other sources did not mention this reasoning. The Kyiv Post, Ukrainska Pravda, and Ukrinform also confirmed the suspension of strikes, aligning with the Lithuanian National Radio and Television report. The Independent noted that the visit marked the first known trip by a US spy chief to Russia since November 2021, though the purpose of the visit remains unclear.

Where Sources Diverge

The Kyiv Independent reported that a source suggested the US did not believe in the strength of Putin's air defenses, while other sources did not mention this reasoning.

kyiv-independent

They don't believe in the strength of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's air defenses.

lithuanian-national-radio-and-television

US officials contacted Kyiv last week and requested temporarily to refrain from launching attacks on Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and northern regions of Russia.

Timelines

Sources

IndependentThe IndependentAug 26, 11:06 AM
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv agrees not to strike Moscow during CIA chief’s mysterious visit

Ratcliffe’s purpose and meetings in Russia are not immediately clear but it marks the first known trip from a US spy chief since November 2021

IndependentKyiv PostAug 26, 03:51 AM
US Asked Ukraine Not to Strike Moscow, St. Petersburg During CIA Chief’s Visit

Washington asked Kyiv to temporarily halt strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg during CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Russia, Ukrainian officials confirmed.

StateUkrinformAug 25, 09:20 PM
U.S. asks Ukraine to suspend strikes on Russia during CIA Director’s Moscow visit – Axios - Ukrinform

U.S. asks Ukraine to suspend strikes on Russia during CIA Director’s Moscow visit – Axios  Ukrinform

IndependentUkrainska PravdaAug 25, 09:15 PM
Media: Ukraine clarified that Washington asked not to attack Moscow and Saint Petersburg during the visit of the CIA director

Washington asked Kyiv to refrain from attacking Moscow and Saint Petersburg in the context of the likely visit of CIA director John Retcliffe to Russia.

IndependentKyiv IndependentAug 25, 06:53 PM
US asked Ukraine to refrain from striking Moscow during CIA chief's visit, source says

"They don't believe in the strength of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's air defenses," the source said.

PublicLithuanian National Radio and TelevisionAug 25, 02:12 PM
Ukraine asked CIA director to hold off on attacks during his visit to Moscow

The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, arrived in Moscow for meetings on Tuesday, reported by the US media. According to the report, US officials approached Kyiv last week and requested temporarily to refrain from launching attacks on Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and northern regions of Russia.

PublicLithuanian National Radio and TelevisionAug 25, 02:12 PM
Ukraine asked CZA director to hold back due to attacks

The Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for meetings, reported US media. According to the reports, due to this visit, US officials contacted Kyiv last week and requested temporarily to refrain from launching attacks on Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and northern regions of Russia.