The Trump administration instructed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to avoid publicly portraying Moscow as desperate, with Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby delivering the message during bilateral security meetings. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by declaring that his country is prepared for a wider conflict if pushed, though he maintained that Moscow does not seek war. Putin also threatened countermeasures if navigation in the Baltic Sea is hindered. His remarks arrived following outreach from the leaders of Finland and Norway, whose calls drew scrutiny from other European partners seeking a unified front.
Key points
Washington is actively reviewing its troop levels in Europe while asking allies to tone d…: Washington is actively reviewing its troop levels in Europe while asking allies to tone down escalatory rhetoric.
Moscow has signaled readiness for wider conflict while cautioning European nations agains…: Moscow has signaled readiness for wider conflict while cautioning European nations against imposing Baltic maritime restrictions.
Independent diplomatic outreach to Moscow by Nordic leaders has triggered friction among…: Independent diplomatic outreach to Moscow by Nordic leaders has triggered friction among European partners seeking strategic unity.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The US has urged several NATO allies, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to tone down their public warnings about the threat posed by Russia, cautioning European countries against rhetoric that could further strain relations with Moscow, according to a Reuters report.
The messages, delivered by Pentagon officials during bilateral meetings in recent weeks, reflect the Trump administration's concern that some European leaders' statements about Russia could undermine continental security. Four people familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Washington had advised its allies to avoid publicly portraying Moscow as increasingly desperate or cornered as its invasion of Ukraine slows.
Among the US officials conveying the message was Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, who is also involved in an ongoing review of American troop levels in Europe. The Pentagon declined to comment on the reported exchanges. "Private conversations among allies are just that, so we will not comment on these allegations," a Pentagon official told Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued another warning to Europe, declaring that Moscow is prepared for a potential conflict even though it does not want…
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