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Russia's foreign spy chief accuses NATO of preparing for 'large-scale conflict in the east' - Headlines news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Russia's foreign spy chief accuses NATO of preparing for 'large-scale conflict in the east'

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 28, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: May 28, 2026

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headlines Geopolitics Russia NATO Defense

Russia Accuses NATO of Preparing for Eastern Large-Scale Conflict

NATO and EU Military Developments: Russian Intelligence Perspective

SVR Chief's Statement on NATO Activities

MOSCOW, May 28 (Reuters) - 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.

Allegations of European Union Militarization

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

Media Coverage and Reporting

(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn)

Key Takeaways

  • Naryshkin alleges NATO is making practical preparations for a major conflict on Russia’s eastern flank, accusing ‘Euro‑Atlantic politicians’ of viewing escalation as a tool to preserve hegemony (rt.com).
  • He also claims the European Union is accelerating its rearmament and evolving into a military bloc directed against Russia (rt.com).
  • Context: NATO has launched initiatives like the “Eastern Sentry” to reinforce its eastern flank in response to drone incursions, and the EU is pushing major rearmament plans—such as the €800 billion ReArm Europe proposal—to boost collective defense capacity (investing.com).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who accused NATO of preparing for a large-scale conflict?
Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, made the accusation.
What did Russia claim about the European Union?
Russia claimed the European Union is rapidly arming itself and becoming a military alliance directed against Russia.
Which state agency reported Sergei Naryshkin's statements?
The Russian state RIA news agency reported Sergei Naryshkin's statements.
When were the statements by Sergei Naryshkin reported?
The statements were reported on Thursday, May 28.

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