US President Donald Trump sought to quell speculation about a potential Russian attack on NATO territory, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he has had "good talks" with Vladimir Putin and that the Russian president is "not going to attack" the alliance. The remarks came two days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a surprise visit to Moscow, a trip that US media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and CBS News, suggested was intended to warn the Kremlin against testing NATO's resolve.
"I've had good talks with him. He's not going to be attacking a NATO territory," Trump said when asked whether Putin had given assurances. He declined to confirm whether Ratcliffe had delivered a warning, saying only, "I don't want to comment on that, but they're not going to attack."
The president downplayed the significance of the Moscow talks, suggesting they were routine and focused on Ukraine. "He's there, very sort of semi-routine. I hate to disappoint people. We would like to see the war with Ukraine end," Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck.
European intelligence sees no imminent threat
In Brussels, a senior EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, echoed the president's assessment. "European services in general do not see any risk of an attack from Russia to the European countries, and this assessment has not changed," the official said. "When it comes to any threat to European NATO members, we see no assessment of any of that being under preparation now."
Russia's foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, also played down the meeting with his CIA counterpart, calling it "nothing unusual" and saying they discussed "a number of issues that fall within the remit of intelligence services." The Kremlin dismissed US media reports of a possible attack on NATO as "scare stories" with "nothing to do with reality," according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Ratcliffe is one of the highest-ranking US officials to visit Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. His trip came as Moscow escalates its offensive, with summer attacks driving up civilian casualties and US-brokered peace talks stalled. The visit has raised questions about the US message to the Kremlin, as analysts ponder the implications for European security.
Trump also dismissed the need to punish Russia for its trade with Iran, after his administration announced an "economic D-Day" targeting Tehran if it refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz. "So far, I think Russia's behaved quite well, having to do with the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
On Ukraine, Peskov reiterated 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." He criticised Ukraine's European backers, saying Russia "is facing a very aggressive policy" from them. Russia has repeatedly rejected Ukrainian demands for face-to-face talks between Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, instead demanding Kyiv withdraw from the eastern Donbas region.
Putin is under mounting pressure as Ukrainian retaliatory drone strikes impose an ever-growing toll on the Russian economy and civilians. Widespread drone use at the front has made swift, large-scale troop movements almost impossible, preventing either side from gaining a clear advantage in the grinding four-and-a-half-year war. The conflict continues to exact a heavy price, with recent drone attacks on Kyiv and other cities underscoring the ongoing volatility.
Meanwhile, European efforts to support Ukraine continue, with some EU states pushing to tap frozen Russian assets to fund reconstruction. The diplomatic landscape remains fraught, as the US and Europe navigate a delicate balance between deterrence and dialogue with Moscow.
