World

Russia's foreign spy chief accuses NATO of preparing for 'large-scale conflict in the east'

A pedestrian walks past a sign for the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Little
A pedestrian walks past a sign for the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Little Reuters

MOSCOW - Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, on Thursday accused the NATO military alliance of making practical preparations for what he called a "large-scale conflict in the east," the state RIA news agency reported.

Naryshkin was also cited as saying that the European Union was rapidly arming itself and turning into a military alliance "directed against Russia."

(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 12:44 AM.

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