Pentagon tells Baltic states to stop 'poking' Russia and tone down their rhetoric as Trump pushes a Ukraine peace deal

Trump is pushing a Ukraine peace deal that blends sanctions relief for Russia with pressure on Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby delivered the message in person to Baltic officials during bilateral meetings, pressing them to avoid publicly depicting Russia as cornered or desperate. The effort to curb their rhetoric coincides with Trump's team advancing a Ukraine peace deal that would pair sanctions relief for Moscow with demands that Kyiv stop striking Russian energy infrastructure.

Among those specifically told to moderate their public messaging about Russia are Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

The move lays bare a NATO divide: certain allies worry that inflammatory language plays into the Kremlin's hands, while others argue that candour is essential.

Putin declared last night that he is 'ready' for war with Europe, cautioning that there would be 'no winners' in any NATO conflict.

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