CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow this week to warn Russia to not check the resolve of NATO by attacking considered one of its members, The Wall Avenue Journal reported.
In accordance with the Journal, US intelligence businesses have assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin might contemplate testing NATO within the coming years with a restricted navy operation towards an alliance member.
The priority is that Moscow could not essentially start with a full-scale assault. US officers imagine the attainable choices might vary from a cyberattack to a small floor incursion.
In the meantime, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Wednesday that Ratcliffe’s conferences in Moscow have been with Russian intelligence officers, not Putin, though the Russian president was briefed in regards to the discussions.
Trump Calls Journey “Semi-Routine”
US President Donald Trump, talking to conservative radio host Glenn Beck on Wednesday, described the CIA chief’s go to as “semi-routine” earlier than turning to the battle in Ukraine.
“One thing could come out of it,” Trump mentioned. “We’re working very onerous to get that battle ended and albeit they each wish to see it ended at this level.”
Trump additionally performed down the potential of a Russian assault on NATO, saying he had “had good talks” with Putin.
“He isn’t going to be attacking a NATO territory,” Trump mentioned.
Kremlin Dismisses NATO Assault Stories
Moscow has additionally rejected the experiences coming from US media. Requested about experiences that Russia might assault NATO following Ratcliffe’s uncommon go to, Peskov dismissed them as hypothesis.
“A variety of such scare tales are being printed proper now. In fact, they don’t have anything to do with actuality”, he mentioned,
Ratcliffe’s journey is the most recent in a collection of high-level US contacts with Russia.
