Trump denies being told about Russian bounties to kill US troops in Afghanistan

President Donald Trump on Sunday stated he was by no means briefed about Russian efforts to pay bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan, blasting a New York Times report that he had been informed about Moscow’s money rewards however had not moved to reply.

The White House and the Director of National Intelligence on Saturday denied the report.

“Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an ‘anonymous source’ by the Fake News @nytimes. Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us,” Trump tweeted, calling on the newspaper to disclose its supply.

The Times on Friday reported that U.S. intelligence had concluded {that a} Russian navy intelligence unit linked to assassination makes an attempt in Europe had provided rewards for profitable assaults final yr on American and coalition troopers, and that Islamist militants or these related to them had been believed to have collected some bounty cash.

Russia’s international ministry dismissed the report.

Democrats, together with Trump’s seemingly challenger Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden, cited the report and Trump’s denial as extra proof of the president ignoring allegations in opposition to Russia in a bid to accommodate President Vladimir Putin.

“There is something very wrong here. But this must have an answer,” U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi informed ABC News, including that Trump has already given “gifts” to Putin by diminishing U.S. management in NATO, decreasing U.S. forces in Germany and welcoming Russia again into the G8.

U.S. Senate Democratic chief Chuck Schumer stated at a information convention in New York on Sunday that the report confirmed the necessity for powerful sanctions in opposition to Russia within the protection invoice that the Senate will debate this week.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department stated Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation chief govt Adam Boehler had departed on Sunday for Doha, Islamabad and Tashkent to “urge support for all Afghans” forward of Afghan peace talks and would additionally conduct video conferences with Afghan officers through the journey.