FBI Director Kash Patel plans to visit Russia on October 14 and 15, Politico reports, citing a US official.
The FBI chief is expected to arrive first in Moscow before traveling to St. Petersburg. Russia’s Federal Security Service will arrange the visit on the Russian side.
The trip’s agenda has not yet been disclosed. It is unclear whether Patel will meet Vladimir Putin or members of his administration, or what subjects the two sides plan to discuss.
“This would be an unusual and sensitive trip for the FBI director to one of America’s principal adversaries. The plans come amid continuing disagreements between Washington and Moscow over the war in Ukraine, as US lawmakers demand new and severe sanctions against Russia,” Politico notes.
Robert Mueller was the last FBI director publicly reported to have visited Russia. He traveled to the country in 2013.
Mueller later led the investigation into alleged links between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, as well as possible Russian interference in the US election.
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