Former President Donald Trump asserted Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not attack a NATO territory, stating he has had "good talks" with the Russian leader. Trump's comments came as a response to reports that Washington had warned Moscow against a potential move on Europe.
The Kremlin also dismissed the reports as "scare stories." The speculation followed a rare visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, which the Wall Street Journal and CBS News reported was intended to dissuade Russia from striking NATO. U.S. intelligence assessments suggest Moscow might test the alliance amidst heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters at the White House that he did not want to comment on the specifics of Ratcliffe's visit but reiterated, "they're not going to attack."
The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin could potentially test NATO with a "limited assault" within the next few years. The last known direct communication between Trump and Putin was a phone call in June, and their last in-person meeting was in Alaska a year prior.
During his Moscow visit, Ratcliffe also reportedly discussed the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, a Russian ally. Trump, however, downplayed the need for punitive measures against Russia for its trade with Tehran, despite his administration's announcement of an "economic D-Day" targeting Iran's business partners.
Trump had previously described the CIA director's trip as "semi-routine," suggesting it was part of broader efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin echoed this sentiment, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that reports of a potential attack on NATO were unfounded.
"A lot of such scare stories are being published right now. Of course, they have nothing to do with reality," Peskov said. He added that Russia "would prefer to achieve its objectives by peaceful means, but in the absence of an opportunity to do so, it is continuing the special military operation" in Ukraine.
Russia's foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, also characterized the meeting with his CIA counterpart as routine, telling state news agency TASS that the discussion covered "a number of issues that fall within the remit of intelligence services."
In Brussels, a senior EU official, speaking anonymously, downplayed the threat of a Russian assault on European countries, stating that assessments have not changed and "we see no assessment of any of that being under preparation now."
Ratcliffe's visit marked one of the highest-level U.S. engagements in Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine began. The last CIA director to visit Moscow was William Burns in November 2021, who warned Russia against sending troops into Ukraine, an action the Kremlin took three months later.
