“The United States, which has been appeasing Russia, asks Europe to ‘be careful with what they say to Russia’”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Jae-woo = It has been reported that the U.S. Donald Trump administration has asked European North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to refrain from making hard-line remarks that provoke Russia.

It is interpreted that the Trump administration is trying to control the level of comments made by European allies toward Russia while re-pursuing negotiations to end the Ukraine war.

On the 30th (local time), Reuters, citing four officials familiar with the matter, reported that the U.S. Department of Defense had in recent weeks asked NATO members, including the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, to tone down their public comments about Russian threats.

The United States reportedly claimed that the comments of some European leaders and officials were actually harming European security.

According to reports, one of the people who delivered this message was U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby.

Deputy Minister Colby recently emphasized to an official in the Baltic countries that he should not make comments that 'poking' Russia.

In particular, comments by European leaders that Russia is like a 'cornered rat' were pointed out as inappropriate examples.

Previously, Estonian Prime Minister Christen Michal compared Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is struggling in the Ukraine war, to a cornered rat in late September.

One European official said the American message was, "We are helping you, the Americans are there. Just don't raise your voice or make a fuss."

This request from the United States came amid a series of warnings from Western intelligence agencies that Russia was expanding sabotage in Europe.

The U.S. Department of Defense declined to comment on this report, saying, "Private conversations between allies are literally private."

The Trump administration has recently pushed for negotiations to end the war, suggesting the possibility of easing sanctions against Russia and economic cooperation, while also considering the possibility of reducing US troops stationed in Europe.