Pentagon urges European allies to tone down rhetoric on Russian threat

Four sources have revealed that officials at the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) have, in recent weeks, asked several NATO member states to moderate their rhetoric regarding the Russian threat, arguing that some European statements undermine the continent’s security.

The sources, who requested anonymity, said Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were among the countries that received messages urging restraint in their public statements. It remains unclear whether other European governments received similar messages during bilateral meetings.

These US requests come as the administration of Donald Trump seeks to revive negotiations aimed at ending the full-scale war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year. The efforts include offering incentives to Russia, such as easing sanctions, as well as pressuring Ukraine to halt its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

In response to a request for comment, a Pentagon official said: "Private conversations between allies are private conversations, so we will not comment on these claims."

One source noted that among the statements that drew the attention of US officials were remarks by some European leaders suggesting that Russia is increasingly isolated and resorting to desperate and reckless measures as its invasion of Ukraine slows significantly.

Two sources said Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s head of policy and a key figure in an ongoing review of US troop deployments in Europe, was among the officials who conveyed the message. Reuters was unable to identify the other officials involved in the matter.