Trump says Putin 'not going to be attacking' NATO territory

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attack NATO territory, expressing confidence in Moscow's intentions despite ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine. Asked in the Oval Office whether Putin had committed to refraining from aggression against alliance members, Trump replied: "I had good talks with him. He’s not going to be attacking a NATO territory."

The president declined to comment on whether he intended to issue specific warnings to Russia regarding NATO security, stating: "I don’t want to comment on that, but they’re not going to attack." His remarks follow recent diplomatic contacts between Washington and Moscow aimed at managing fallout from the Ukraine conflict.

CIA talks characterized as 'standard business'

Trump downplayed reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow to warn Russian officials against escalating conflicts with NATO allies over their support for Ukraine. According to Axios, Trump characterized Ratcliffe's meeting with Russian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergey Naryshkin as "standard business," noting that the two intelligence leaders maintain regular contact. "Ratcliffe sees his Russian counterpart once every six months or once every year. They have a very good relationship. There was no message and there was nothing unusual," Trump said.

The president also addressed Moscow's ongoing business relations with Tehran, declining to specify potential consequences for Russia's continued trade with Iran despite US warnings. "It depends. It depends," Trump said when asked about punitive measures, adding: "So far, I think Russia’s behaved quite well having to do with the Strait of Hormuz." The comments reflect Washington's delicate balancing act as it seeks to maintain pressure on Iran while managing diplomatic channels with Moscow.