CIA chief was in Moscow to warn Russia not to attack the Baltics

CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow this week with the aim of warning Russia not to launch attacks on NATO countries - particularly Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has learned from its sources.

Ratcliffe's visit on August 25, his first public visit to Russia since being appointed to head the CIA under President Donald Trump, comes at a time when concerns about Russian aggression are growing in the Baltic states.

A Baltic diplomat, who spoke to REL on condition of anonymity, said officials were “warned in advance” about Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow.

Russia has confirmed the visit.

Sergei Naryshkin, the director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, said he had held a "working meeting" with the CIA director. He gave no further details, saying only that they discussed sensitive, unspecified issues.

Baltic fears

The leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – all NATO member states – have long warned of Russian aggression.

REL reported on August 26th about a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and signed by three Baltic commissioners – Kaja Kallas, Andrius Kubilius and Valdis Dombrovskis – warning of the “deteriorating security environment” in the Baltics and the increase in “airspace violations and drone incursions” by Russia.

The letter was also signed by the EU commissioners of Poland and Finland.

Baltic diplomats, who spoke to REL on condition of anonymity, said that there had been other intelligence reports of Russian false-flag operations over the summer, but there was no indication of any imminent conventional attack.

In recent years, Russia has waged a hybrid campaign against the Baltic states, including airspace testing, electronic warfare, sabotage, and cyber operations.

In September 2024, a fully armed Russian Shahed drone was shot down in Latvia. Riga summoned Russia's charge d'affaires, who denied that the drone belonged to Russia.

Later that year, the Estlink 2 power cable, connecting Finland to Estonia, was damaged, along with four telecommunications cables. Finnish authorities suspected that the tanker Eagle S, flagged to the Cook Islands and believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” caused the damage by dragging its anchor along the seabed.

In September 2025, three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for about 12 minutes near Vaindlo Island, flying without flight plans and without transponders.

Tallinn described the incursion as deliberate, also referring to previous violations, and activated NATO's Article 4, which stipulates the mandatory holding of a meeting of the alliance's member countries, but is less serious than Article 5.

A similar incident occurred in October 2025, when a Russian fighter jet and a refueling tanker briefly entered Lithuanian airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to take off.

Ukrainian drones, which are intended to strike targets in Russia, have regularly entered Latvian airspace throughout 2026. The Latvian military has said it suspects Russia is using electronic warfare to divert the drones.

Meanwhile, US officials confirmed to REL that Washington will notify allies of the details of Ratcliffe's visit next week.

The CIA chief was seen leaving the West Wing of the White House on August 26, along with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine.

Elbridge Colby, the US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels on August 29.

Colby will then attend a meeting of the North Atlantic Council with ambassadors from allied countries. REL