The director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergei Naryshkin, announced on Sunday that he held talks with the head of the American CIA, John Ratcliffe, marking their second official exchange under improved Moscow-Washington relations.
Naryshkin mentioned on Russian state television that he had a telephone conversation with his American counterpart, during which they agreed to stay in contact and discuss mutual concerns, though he provided no further details.
Their first known conversation took place on 11 March, marking their initial contact since Donald Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year.
These official calls come amid a thaw in diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States, despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where the US supports Kyiv.
Despite this warming, many disagreements persist between Moscow and Washington after years of intense tensions.
For instance, the US continues to supply Kyiv with crucial intelligence, aiding Ukrainian forces against Russia’s large-scale military operations now in their fourth year.
In March, both Naryshkin and Ratcliffe reportedly agreed to maintain regular contact, according to a statement from the Russian side, as cited by the state agency Tass.
