‘Don’t Make Noise’ – Pentagon Reportedly Urges Baltic States to Tone Down Russia Warnings

The Pentagon has privately urged several NATO allies to tone down their public statements about the threat posed by Russia, saying that some European leaders’ rhetoric could undermine security across the continent.Reuters reported on Oct. 30, citing four people familiar with the discussions, that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were among the countries that received the messages during bilateral meetings.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.The discussions were described as cordial rather than confrontational. It remains unclear whether Washington delivered similar messages to other European governments.One US official declined to comment on the allegations, telling Reuters: “Private conversations among allies are just that, so we will not comment on these allegations.”Among the statements that reportedly concerned US officials were remarks by European leaders suggesting that Russia was increasingly cornered and resorting to desperate measures as its invasion of Ukraine slowed.Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, who is involved in a review of US troop levels in Europe, was among those delivering the message, Reuters’ sources said.One person familiar with the discussions said Colby recently told a Baltic official that there should be no “poking” directed at Russia. He reportedly cited comments describing Moscow as “cornered like a rat” as an example of unhelpful rhetoric.Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal used a similar phrase in late September, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “rat in a corner” while discussing alleged sabotage efforts in Europe. It is unclear whether Michal’s remarks were the specific comments Colby had in mind. Other Topics of Interest Russian Foreign Minister Arrives in US for G20 Amid Outcry Republican Don Bacon and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen condemn Washington’s welcome for Moscow’s top diplomat as Russian attacks on Ukraine continue. In a separate meeting, Pentagon officials urged an Estonian delegation to be “measured” in its communications, according to a person briefed on the encounter.“We are helping you. The Americans are there,” one European official said, describing the Pentagon’s recent messaging. “Just don’t be loud. Don’t make noise.”The issue comes as Western intelligence officials have warned of an intensifying Russian campaign of sabotage and other covert attacks across Europe. Moscow denies pursuing such a campaign.Recent incidents include the arrest of two Belarusian nationals in Germany over an alleged plot to set fire to a building or critical infrastructure facility near Nuremberg. Berlin has also accused Russia of involvement in an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a claim Moscow denies.The Pentagon’s messages come as the Trump administration seeks to revive negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, combining pressure on Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure with possible incentives for Moscow, including sanctions relief.At the same time, Washington is reviewing its military presence in Europe and has urged European NATO members to take greater responsibility for their own defense. The review could lead to a significant reduction in US troop numbers on the continent as the administration shifts its focus to other regions.Meanwhile, Putin said Moscow was “ready” for a war with Europe but did not want such a conflict, warning that any escalation would leave no winners.Speaking after the Russia-Africa summit on Oct. 29, he also dismissed the prospect of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia by 2030 as “hardly possible.”Putin added Russia remained open to restoring relations with European countries, both individually and with the EU as a whole.He also defended Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre for holding a phone call with him on Oct. 27, saying the two leaders were right to seek dialogue despite criticism from other European officials.He confirmed that the conversation had been initiated by the Nordic leaders and covered several issues, including tensions in the Baltic Sea. Putin said some European governments wanted constructive engagement with Moscow rather than seeking to defeat Russia strategically.The Kremlin has maintained that a lasting peace in Ukraine would require Russia’s interests to be taken into account. On Thursday, it also ruled out European participation in the next round of Ukraine-US negotiations scheduled for November in Abu Dhabi. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.