Trump dismisses fears Russia could strike NATO after CIA Moscow trip
What's new: Reuters reported Ratcliffe raised the risk of a Russian operation against a NATO member during talks in Moscow.
President Donald Trump said Aug. 27 that Vladimir Putin would not attack NATO territory, pushing back on reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow to warn Russian officials against such a move. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that there was “nothing unusual” about the Aug. 25 trip and said Ratcliffe was not sent with a specific message. Reuters, citing two people familiar with the matter, reported Ratcliffe did discuss the possibility of a Russian operation against a NATO member, though that may not have been the sole purpose of the meeting. The talks also touched on Russia’s support for Iran. Western intelligence officials have been tracking Russian sabotage and other gray-zone activity in Europe, including possible false-flag drone attacks.