A US insider acquainted with CIA Director John Ratcliffe's trip informed CNN that Ratcliffe spent the nite in Moscow to meet with Russian authorities.

The official refused to disclose the issues that would be covered or the content of the discussions. The CIA declined to comment.

Prior to Ratcliffe's visit, the US requested that Ukraine stop drone and missile attacks in Moscow and other northern Russian cities, according to a person familiar with the situation. The request was made for this week's Monday through Wednesday. The Ukrainians were informed that a high-ranking US official would be visiting Russia.

This is Ratcliffe's first known travel to Russia while serving as President Donald Trump's CIA director. It coincides with the stalling of talks to put an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed state media TASS on Wednesday morning that the CIA director has no intention of meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit.

Ratcliffe's visit also coincides with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement of "Operation Economic Outcast," a new plan to punish nations and organizations that continue to conduct business with Tehran in an effort to isolate Iran from the rest of the world. Iran and Russia are strategic business partners.

According to the flight tracking website Flightradar24, an American Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft touched down at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport early on Tuesday morning. The aircraft seemed to have taken off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at first.

The flight, which departed from Riga, the capital of Latvia, was "properly coordinated and authorized for operation within the airspace," according to a spokesman for the country's defense ministry.

"We are unable to provide any further information concerning this particular flight because the aircraft is not operated by the National Armed Forces of Latvia," the official told CNN.

Ratcliffe's presence in Russia was initially reported by CBS News.