The Russian government on Thursday, August 27 dismissed as “scare stories” reports in US media suggesting that Russia could attack NATO, following a rare visit by the CIA director to Moscow.
US intelligence assessments reported by American media outlets suggested that Moscow could seek to test the alliance, with potential limited action in the coming years.
Asked to comment on the reports during a daily briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “A lot of such scare stories are being published right now. Of course, they have nothing to do with reality.”
Addressing the situation in Ukraine, Peskov noted that Russia “would prefer to achieve its objectives by peaceful means, but in the absence of an opportunity to do so, it is continuing the special military operation.” He also criticized European nations backing Kyiv, stating that Moscow is facing a “very aggressive policy” from them.
Russia has maintained its position demanding a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the eastern Donbas region as a condition before any potential face-to-face peace negotiations between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can occur.
Earlier on Thursday, Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, addressed his meeting with his CIA counterpart, describing it as a standard discussion covering matters within the remit of intelligence services.
US President Donald Trump also played down the talks in Moscow, indicating that the discussions were primarily focused on the situation in Ukraine and dismissing speculation regarding broader geopolitical warnings.
The CIA director’s visit marks one of the highest-level meetings between American and Russian officials since the full-scale conflict in Ukraine began in 2022. The visit occurs against the backdrop of ongoing military action along the front lines, where extensive drone usage has heavily restricted large-scale troop maneuvers for both forces.