The Kremlin has rejected recent U.S. media claims suggesting that Russia may launch an attack on a NATO member state, labeling them as unfounded scaremongering. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that such reports are detached from reality and do not reflect Russia’s intentions.
Peskov clarified that CIA Director John Ratcliffe did not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent visit to Moscow, although Putin was informed of the visit. The Wall Street Journal reported that Ratcliffe conveyed a message warning Russia against any potential aggression towards NATO by targeting a member state, citing sources briefed on the visit.
In a separate development, Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence chief, Sergey Naryshkin, confirmed a “working-level meeting” with Ratcliffe, discussing sensitive intelligence matters within their agencies’ domains. Naryshkin downplayed the significance of their meeting as routine.
President Donald Trump described Ratcliffe’s visit as “semi-routine,” noting that the last known CIA director visit occurred before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO has not officially commented on Ratcliffe’s visit, and the European Union stated that it was unaware of the visit beforehand.
Russian neighbors Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland are reportedly increasing security around critical infrastructure amid concerns of potential provocations by Russia utilizing Ukrainian drones. The report, based on insights from regional officials and intelligence assessments, highlighted the heightened vigilance in the region.
Peskov dismissed the allegations, referring to them as “scare stories.” Moscow criticized the West for baselessly accusing Russia of malicious activities driven by “Russophobia.”
Recent incidents of mysterious drones appearing in Europe, including the discovery of an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, have raised security concerns. The airport, serving both civilian and NATO purposes, faced a potential security threat with the drone incident. German authorities labeled it a hybrid attack, refraining from attributing responsibility, while Russia denied any involvement in the incident.