The Wall Street Journal reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe delivered a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his secret visit to Moscow, telling him 'we know what you're planning, and you better not do it.' According to the report, US intelligence identified early Russian preparations for a new military mobilization and plans to test NATO's cohesion through limited incursions in Europe. The US also asked Ukraine to suspend strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg during the delegation's stay, the Journal said.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday evening that CIA Director John Ratcliffe delivered a direct warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his secret visit to Moscow, telling him "we know what you're planning, and you better not do it." According to the Journal, US intelligence identified early-stage Russian preparations for a new military mobilization and plans to test NATO cohesion through limited incursions in Europe. The visit was the first by a US intelligence chief to Russia since November 2021.
The new report expands on information first disclosed by The Zioneer at 20:27 Jerusalem time Tuesday, which revealed that Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow aboard a US Air Force C-17 and that Washington requested Ukraine to suspend strikes on Russian cities during the visit. At 21:46 Jerusalem, The Zioneer further reported that Putin signed three secret decrees — numbered 605, 606, and 607 — on the day of Ratcliffe's visit, their contents unpublished. CBS News confirmed Ratcliffe's arrival in Moscow at the same hour.
The Zioneer has previously reported on Ratcliffe's role as a key security envoy for the Trump administration, including his involvement in sensitive backchannel communications. The warning to Putin echoes the approach of his predecessor William Burns, who warned Putin against invading Ukraine in November 2021 — a warning that went unheeded.
The contents of the three secret decrees signed by Putin remain unknown, and it is unclear whether the Kremlin will heed Ratcliffe's warning. The WSJ report is based on US intelligence sources; no official Russian response has been published.
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