Stop stirring up unrest, Trump warns Russia

President makes no mention of electoral interference in speech during Warsaw visit

Donald Trump has called for Russia to stop stirring up unrest around the world, but pointedly stopped short of condemning Moscow for meddling in the US election.

On the eve of his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump delivered a speech in Warsaw, Poland, and vowed to confront “new forms of aggression” targeting the West.

Buoyed by an electrified crowd in Poland chanting his name, Mr Trump sought to show he was not overlooking Russian actions that have caused global consternation, especially from nearby nations in eastern and central Europe.

He warned that Western interests were being tested by “propaganda, financial crimes and cyber warfare”, forcing Nato to adapt.

“We urge Russia to cease its destabilising activities in Ukraine and elsewhere, and its support for hostile regimes including Syria and Iran, and to join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and in defence of civilisation itself,” he said in a speech in Warsaw’s Krasinski Square.

It was a critique the president did not appear to extend to Russia’s actions last year during the presidential campaign.

In a news conference before his speech, Mr Trump questioned the veracity of American intelligence about foreign meddling in the US election, arguing that Russia was not the only country that may have interfered.

“Nobody really knows for sure,” the president said.

As US investigations into Russia’s meddling forge ahead, he is under intense scrutiny for how he handles his first face-to-face session with Mr Putin.

US intelligence officials say the unpredictable Russia leader ordered interference into the 2016 election that took Mr Trump to the White House.

The pair plan to sit down today in Hamburg, Germany, on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Using information collected by the FBI, CIA and National Security Agency, the US national intelligence director last year concluded that Moscow was behind the hack of Democratic Party email systems and attempted to influence the 2016 election to benefit Mr Trump.

The Obama administration said the effort was directed from the “highest levels” of Russia’s government – a reference to Mr Putin.

Picture: AP. US President Donald Trump delivers his speech in Krasinski Square, Warsaw.