Trump downplays risk of Russian attack on NATO, calls Ratcliffe Moscow visit routine

Former US President Donald Trump has downplayed concerns over the possibility of a Russian attack on NATO member states, saying he sees no reason for alarm and does not expect Moscow to target alliance territory.

In comments to Axios, Trump stated he is "not concerned at all" about the prospect of Russia attacking NATO countries, adding, "Russia will not attack NATO territory."

Trump also addressed CIA Director John Ratcliffe's recent visit to Moscow, clarifying that it was a routine trip and did not involve delivering any special warning to the Russian side.

He emphasized that Ratcliffe regularly meets his Russian counterpart, noting that their relationship is good and that the latest visit was not out of the ordinary.

Russian intelligence chief confirms routine nature of meeting

Russian intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin confirmed his meeting with Ratcliffe in Moscow, stating that it took place as part of regular cooperation between the two sides and did not involve anything unusual.

These statements come amid rising European concerns in recent weeks that Moscow may test NATO's unity, especially after Russian drones entered the airspace of alliance members including Romania and Poland.

Moscow warns UK and France

At the same time, Russia's Foreign Ministry warned the UK and France against "playing with fire" over their provision of technology to Ukraine enabling long-range strikes inside Russian territory.

The escalation comes as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, fueling European fears about a broader conflict and its impact on NATO security.