Kremlin reveals purpose of CIA director's visit to Moscow

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow on 25 August was related to contact between the Russian and US intelligence services.

Asked about the purpose of Ratcliffe's visit, Peskov said in a comment to The Washington Post it was related to "contacts between security services".

Peskov declined to provide any further details.

Earlier on Tuesday 25 August, he said the Kremlin had no information about a US military aircraft that had arrived at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport.

He said the Russian side had no plans to meet with representatives of the US administration this week.

CBS was the first media outlet to report Ratcliffe's visit. Reports of his visit emerged after a US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport plane and a US diplomatic motorcade were spotted at a Moscow airport.

According to The Wall Street Journal, CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow after the US gathered intelligence indicating that Russia was making early preparations for a possible military mobilisation.

The US asked Ukraine to suspend strikes on Russia during the US delegation's visit.