I simply decline to make a fetish of parsing my words.
If I were the US president, I would instruct my embassador to Russia to inform the Russian president that he really does not want to attack the American military, in any country. And if he believes otherwise, he would be well advised to reconsider.
Like I said, I am not a fan, at all, of diplomat-speak. In any context, whatsoever...
I’d love to be “a fly on the wall” in those smoke-filled meeting rooms, hearing the truth instead of politic-speak BS we get fed.