Don't make noise": The Pentagon called on the Baltic states to soften their rhetoric towards Russia, -. Reuters In recent weeks, Pentagon officials have asked Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to tone down their rhetoric about the Russian threat, arguing that some statements by European leaders and officials undermine the continent's security. It is not known whether other European governments have received similar notices. According to sources, the recommendations were made during bilateral meetings. The US requests come as the Trump administration renews efforts to advance a negotiated settlement to a full-scale war in Ukraine, which has entered its fifth year. The latest initiative combines incentives for Russia, including sanctions relief, with pressure on Ukraine to stop its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure," the agency writes. According to one of the agency's interlocutors, the attention of American officials was drawn by statements by European leaders that Russia was cornered and taking increasingly desperate measures against the background of the almost halting advance of Russian troops in Ukraine. One of the American officials who forwarded these recommendations was the US Deputy Secretary of War, Elbridge Colby, the agency writes. One of the sources told Reuters that Colby recently told a representative of one of the Baltic states that Russia should not be "provoked". As an example of inappropriate rhetoric, he cited public statements by European politicians that Russia was "backed into a corner like a rat." In late September, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal called Vladimir Putin a "cornered rat" and suggested the Russian leader had resorted to sabotage in Europe as Russia became increasingly embroiled in a war against Ukraine. "We help you. The Americans are on your side. Just don't make any noise. Don't draw attention," said another European official, describing the latest non-public communication from the Pentagon.

Don't make noise": The Pentagon called on the Baltic states to soften their rhetoric towards Russia, -. Reuters In recent weeks, Pentagon officials have asked Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to tone down their rhetoric about the Russian threat, arguing that some statements by European leaders and officials undermine the continent's security. It is not known whether other European governments have received similar notices. According to sources, the recommendations were made during bilateral meetings. The US requests come as the Trump administration renews efforts to advance a negotiated settlement to a full-scale war in Ukraine, which has entered its fifth year. The latest initiative combines incentives for Russia, including sanctions relief, with pressure on Ukraine to stop its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure," the agency writes. According to one of the agency's interlocutors, the attention of American officials was drawn by statements by European leaders that Russia was cornered and taking increasingly desperate measures against the background of the almost halting advance of Russian troops in Ukraine. One of the American officials who forwarded these recommendations was the US Deputy Secretary of War, Elbridge Colby, the agency writes. One of the sources told Reuters that Colby recently told a representative of one of the Baltic states that Russia should not be "provoked". As an example of inappropriate rhetoric, he cited public statements by European politicians that Russia was "backed into a corner like a rat." In late September, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal called Vladimir Putin a "cornered rat" and suggested the Russian leader had resorted to sabotage in Europe as Russia became increasingly embroiled in a war against Ukraine. "We help you. The Americans are on your side. Just don't make any noise. Don't draw attention," said another European official, describing the latest non-public communication from the Pentagon.