US FBI Director Patel has arrived in Russia for series of meetings, - media reports

Kash Patel, Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), arrived in Russia on 14 October on the first official visit in 13 years.

MS Now reports this, citing sources, according to Censor.NET.

What is known?

It is reported that Patel will visit Moscow and St. Petersburg and meet with Russian officials.

According to Politico, the Russian FSB will be the host organisation. Preparations for the visit have been underway since July. The publication’s sources did not specify whether the visit’s itinerary includes meetings with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin or other senior officials from his political inner circle.

The last head of the US agency to pay a similar visit to the Russian Federation was Robert Mueller in 2013. Since then, no serving FBI director has travelled to Russia, although some lower-ranking officials from the Bureau have periodically undertaken working visits to liaise with Russian law enforcement agencies.

John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow

CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow on 25 August to hold talks with Russian officials.
Russian media report that a very large-scale event involving hundreds of people had been scheduled for Putin, but it was postponed a few days ago.
The US has asked Ukraine to refrain from attacks on Moscow, St Petersburg and northern Russia due to a visit by its officials.
According to media reports, Retcliffe may have warned Putin of the consequences of a new mobilisation and an attack on NATO.
It should be noted that CIA Director William Burns last visited Russia in person in November 2021 to warn against military action against Ukraine and to ascertain the reasons behind the build-up of Russian troops near the borders.
The FT reported earlier that CIA Director John Ratcliffe is set to play a leading role in US negotiations to bring Russia’s war against Ukraine to an end, as President Donald Trump’s administration is considering replacing Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.