Trump Says Putin Won’t Attack NATO as Russia Threatens Britain

Trump dismisses reports that the CIA director traveled to Moscow to deliver a warning, while Maria Zakharova signals a possible Russian response against British targets

Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin will not attack NATO territory, describing his conversations with the Russian president as “good talks” as tensions remain high between Moscow and the Western alliance.

Trump’s comments came as Russia reportedly warned that it could strike British military sites in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory carried out with weapons supplied by London. During a briefing with reporters, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow’s response could target “any British military installation” in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Speaking at the White House, Trump also sought to play down concerns surrounding the recent trip to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who met Tuesday with Sergey Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s intelligence service.

Several media reports had suggested that Ratcliffe’s mission was intended, at least in part, to warn the Kremlin against attacking a NATO member. Trump rejected that account, telling Axios that Ratcliffe had not delivered any such message.

The president described the CIA director’s trip as “a normal work engagement” and criticized the attention it received in the media. Trump said Ratcliffe meets his Russian counterpart regularly, “once every six months or once a year,” and emphasized that the two intelligence chiefs have “a very good relationship.”

“There was no warning and there was nothing unusual,” Trump said, dismissing the prospect of imminent tensions involving Washington, Moscow and NATO.

Trump: “The Strait is open”

Trump also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, telling reporters at the White House that “the Strait is open” and that the United States “has control” of it.

The president reiterated that the strategic waterway is fully operational and that Washington is capable of ensuring its security. Trump also said Iran is in serious trouble, claiming that the country “is not paying its troops” and that conditions inside Iran are deteriorating.

His comments came amid continuing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for navigation and global energy traffic.

Trump says U.S. offered help to Nepal

Trump also said he had contacted Nepal following the devastating flooding there, adding that the United States had offered “all the help they need.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described the disaster as “a tragedy” and said Washington was prepared to provide immediate support to Nepalese authorities.

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