WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ruled out a Russian assault on NATO territory after his CIA director, John Ratcliffe, visited Moscow and reportedly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against attacking the alliance.
“I’ve had good talks with him. He’s not going to be attacking a NATO territory,” Trump said of Putin on Aug. 27 in the Oval Office.
Trump declined to say if he directed Ratcliffe to deliver a warning to Putin during the visit to not attack NATO. “I don’t want to comment on that but they’re not going to attack,” Trump said.
The visit by Ratcliffe dovetailed with Wall Street Journal reporting on leaked U.S. intelligence that suggested Russia could be making plans to test the resolve of NATO nations. The United States is a NATO member and would be obligated to help defend attacked countries, if the mutual defense portion of the alliance’s charter were invoked.
Trump said on Aug. 26 that Ratcliffe’s unannounced trip to Russia was “semi-routine,” downplaying the visit amid speculation the spy chief had an urgent reason to make an appearance in Russia’s capital.
Radio host Glenn Beck quizzed Trump about Ratcliffe’s Aug. 25 trip, saying there were “rumors” that Putin could threaten a NATO country, or that the trip was about telling Moscow “we’re serious” about Iran sanctions.
“None of the above,” Trump said, adding the trip was “sort of semi-routine. I hate to disappoint people.”
The Wall Street Journal and CBS News later reported that Ratcliffe’s trip was to warn Russia against a NATO attack.
In the interview with Beck, Trump instead talked about trying to end the Ukraine war, a goal he has pursued without success since returning to office last year.
Trump said “something may come out” of Ratcliffe’s trip, his first known visit to Moscow. “We’re working very hard to get that war ended,” he added.