CIA director’s Moscow trip served its purpose, Lithuania’s president says
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda said CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced visit to Moscow last week “achieved its stated objectives,” aimed at easing regional tensions.
Source: South China Morning Post · August 31, 2026 at 7:31 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 1 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
CIA chief’s Moscow meeting ‘achieved its goals’, says Lithuania’s president
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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday that CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced visit to Moscow last week had met its objectives, aimed at easing regional tensions. Speaking in Vilnius, Nauseda told local media that the meeting sent a message to the Kremlin, though he did not disclose further details due to an agreement with Washington.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday, drew global attention amid heightened concerns over Russia-NATO relations. While the Kremlin denied reports that Ratcliffe had warned Moscow against attacking NATO allies, Nauseda suggested the meeting was deliberate and intended to convey key messages. He cautioned against overemphasizing the encounter, noting that regional security tensions, though high, had not worsened.
US media reports, citing unnamed sources, had earlier claimed Ratcliffe raised concerns about potential Russian aggression, but Moscow dismissed these assertions.
Looking ahead, Nauseda’s remarks indicate cautious optimism that the meeting may help stabilize regional dynamics, though he stressed that broader security challenges persist. The situation remains under close international scrutiny as NATO allies monitor developments closely.
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