US President Plays Down Fears Of Russian Attack On Alliance Members
US President Donald Trump said he does not believe Russian President Vladimir Putin will attack NATO territory amid rising tensions over Moscow’s activities against Ukraine’s allies.
President Donald Trump said he does not believe Russian President Vladimir Putin will attack NATO members, as tensions rise in Europe over Moscow targeting countries that supply weapons and money to Ukraine.
Trump said Thursday that he had “good talks” with Putin, adding that “he’s not going to be attacking a NATO territory.”
The president’s comments follow a rare trip by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Russia for meetings on Tuesday, though it remains unclear what he discussed with Russian counterparts. Trump in a radio interview Wednesday called Ratcliffe’s trip “semi-routine.”
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the trip’s purpose was to warn the Kremlin not to attack NATO countries, citing unnamed people briefed on the visit.
Worries about a Russian strike have intensified as Moscow expands its campaign of so-called hybrid attacks, including cyber threats and armed drones, against Ukraine’s allies. Just this month, Poland said it thwarted an attempted assassination of a US citizen originally from Ukraine that was ordered by Russia, while Estonia accused Moscow of being behind a fire at a drone maker’s facility.
The president’s comments follow a rare trip by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Russia for meetings on Tuesday, though it remains unclear what he discussed with Russian counterparts. Trump in a radio interview Wednesday called Ratcliffe’s trip “semi-routine.”
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the trip’s purpose was to warn the Kremlin not to attack NATO countries, citing unnamed people briefed on the visit.
Worries about a Russian strike have intensified as Moscow expands its campaign of so-called hybrid attacks, including cyber threats and armed drones, against Ukraine’s allies. Just this month, Poland said it thwarted an attempted assassination of a US citizen originally from Ukraine that was ordered by Russia, while Estonia accused Moscow of being behind a fire at a drone maker’s facility.
( Source : Bloomberg )
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