Sources say CIA director travelled to Moscow for official talks

As war rages on between Russia and Ukraine, sources say US CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow earlier, with the US urging Ukraine to suspend strikes against Russia for three days.

This as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he hopes to see China make use of its diplomatic means to help end the conflict.

As US efforts to facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have largely been stalled, CBS cites sources indicating CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow on Tuesday to hold talks with Russian officials.

The occasion marks the first time the latest CIA chief visited Russia since assuming his position.

The last time CIA personnel visited Moscow was in 2021 under the leadership of Ratcliffe's predecessor William Burns.

This as a flight tracking website showed an American C-17 transport aircraft travelling from the US to Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport via Latvia on Tuesday.The plane remained at the facility for several hours before departing.

The UK's Financial Times cites reports saying Washington earlier requested Ukraine to temporarily suspend airstrikes against several Russian regions including Moscow, St. Petersburg and parts of its northern territories between Monday and Wednesday this week, owing to US high-level officials making their way to the Russian capital.

It remains unclear why Ratcliffe visited Moscow and with whom he held talks with. Some analysts believe the discussions pertains to the increase of drone activity within German borders and the newest round of US sanctions targeting Iran.

The Kremlin has yet to comment on or deny relevant reports of the visit. Russian authorities have indicated Russian President Vladimir Putin currently has no plans to meet with the CIA director.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issues a statement thanking President Xi Jinping for congratulating Ukraine on its independence day.

The Ukrainian leader says he looks forward to step up cooperation with President Xi and hopes China can showcase his diplomacy to help end the war in his country.