CIA Chief Reportedly Warned Russia Against Escalation Toward Baltic NATO States

U.S. intelligence chief John Ratcliffe reportedly warned Russian officials during an August 25 Moscow visit against attacking NATO, with the message focused on Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, according to people familiar with the trip. Separate reports said Iran and possible additional sanctions were also discussed. Russian foreign-intelligence director Sergei Naryshkin confirmed a working-level meeting but did not disclose its subjects. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the reports as scare stories, while President Donald Trump called the trip semi-routine and denied it concerned Russian aggression against NATO or increased pressure on Iran.