Volkswacht Bodensee - Trump says Russia will not attack NATO as CIA chief visits Moscow

US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not attack NATO territory, disputing reports that Washington feared Moscow might test the alliance with a limited incursion.

Trump spoke two days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow. The Wall Street Journal and CBS News reported that Ratcliffe sought to discourage a Russian move against NATO and asked Moscow to reduce economic and military support for Iran. Trump declined to confirm those details and described the visit as semi-routine and related to ending the war in Ukraine.

Russia’s foreign-intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, confirmed the meeting but also described it as unexceptional. He said the officials discussed matters within the responsibilities of their intelligence services. Ratcliffe is among the highest-ranking US officials to travel to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

The visit occurred as Russia intensified its offensive and civilian deaths rose during the summer while US-mediated peace efforts stalled. A senior European Union official, speaking anonymously, said European services did not assess that an attack on European NATO states was being prepared.

Trump also said Russia had behaved well regarding the Strait of Hormuz and rejected the need to punish Moscow over trade with Iran. His administration has threatened major economic measures against Tehran if the waterway is not reopened.

W.Huber--VB