Russia Reacts to Trump's NATO Threat

Russia views NATO as a hostile alliance, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, after President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. could end its membership.

Peskov, who was responding to questions about Trump’s speech on the Iran War as well as the future of the military alliance, also said Russian President Vladimir Putin was talking to regional leaders about trying to end the Middle East conflict.

“The president is continuing these ⁠contacts, and if our ​services are somehow required, we ​are, of course, ready to make our contribution to ensuring that ​the military situation transitions ​to a peaceful course as soon as ‌possible,” he told reporters.

Why It Matters

Peskov’s comments come a day after Trump suggested to British newspaper The Telegraph that he could potentially try to leave the alliance, saying removing the U.S. from the treaty was "beyond reconsideration".

He added: “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way."

The interview was the latest criticism in a growing rhetoric of dissatisfaction with NATO from the Trump administration during the Iran War. Relations were already strained over the president’s push to acquire Greenland at the start of the year, but have grown worse after European leaders pushed back on Trump’s calls for help reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The internationally important waterway for global oil has been effectively under blockade by Tehran during the conflict.

In a statement to Newsweek on Wednesday after Trump’s threats to leave the alliance, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “President Trump has made his disappointment with NATO and other allies clear, and as the President has emphasized, ‘the United States will remember.'”

What To Know

After Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO declared Russia its "most significant and direct threat". More recently, Russia has been accused by NATO countries of hybrid warfare following unauthorized drone incursions over critical infrastructure, such as airports, nuclear power plants and military bases.

But its standing as a united front has taken a hit in recent months after remarks from Donald Trump, and other members of his administration, over what future role the U.S. would have in NATO.

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. may “reexamine” its role after several European countries limited U.S. military access to bases and airspace for strikes on Iran.

Spain had closed its airspace to all U.S. military flights during the war, while Italy denied U.S. bombers access to an air base and France drew Trump’s criticism for closing its airspace to planes carrying weapons to Israel.

What People Are Saying

Rubio, speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity, said: "If, now, we have reached a point where the NATO alliance means we can't use those bases…to defend America's interests, then NATO is a one-way street,”

Trump, on Truth Social: “The Country of France wouldn't let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the "Butcher of Iran," who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”

What Happens Next

If the U.S. decided to leave NATO, any presidential decision to exit needs either two-thirds Senate approval or to be authorized through an act of Congress.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 2:44 AM.