Pentagon tells Baltic states to stop 'poking' Russia as Trump pushes a Ukraine peace deal with sanctions relief for Moscow

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby delivered the messages in person to Baltic officials during bilateral meetings, urging them not to claim that Russia is cornered or growing increasingly desperate. Colby is also heading a current examination of how many US troops should be stationed in Europe.

Washington has coupled that allied pressure with sweeteners for Moscow — among them sanctions relief — as part of a renewed drive toward a negotiated settlement in Ukraine.

The intervention lays bare a live Nato split: some officials argue that amplifying the Russian threat plays into Kremlin hands, while others insist European governments owe their publics transparency.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned last week that Britain needs to be prepared for war within 1,000 days, as Putin declared he is 'prepared' for a major conflict with Europe.