Russia accuses NATO of preparing for 'large-scale conflict in the East'

Russia's top intelligence official, Sergei Naryshkin, accused NATO on Thursday of making concrete preparations for a "large-scale conflict in the East." Naryshkin, head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), also stated that the European Union is rapidly arming itself and transforming into a military alliance directed against Russia, according to state news agency RIA.

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NATO is making concrete preparations for what it calls a 'large-scale conflict in the East.'

Concerns are growing in European capitals that Russian President Vladimir Putin may seek to change the battlefield situation in Ukraine by expanding the conflict into Europe. Russia currently faces a stalemate on the Ukrainian front and has responded with massive attacks on Kyiv. Moscow's rhetoric towards the Baltic states has become increasingly belligerent in recent weeks, with Russia openly threatening to strike "decision-making centers" in Latvia and accusing Riga of hosting Ukrainian drone operators – an accusation Latvia denies.

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The European Union is rapidly arming itself and transforming into a military alliance directed against Russia.

Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted sharply to a threat from the Russian Foreign Ministry, calling it a "grave and irresponsible escalation." Romania stated that such an action, if carried out, could constitute a war crime against the Ukrainian population. The Russian ambassador to Bucharest was summoned to the Romanian Foreign Ministry to receive a protest note. Hungary also summoned the Russian ambassador to Budapest after Moscow's massive drone attacks on the Transcarpathia region of Ukraine, which is home to a significant Hungarian ethnic community.

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grave and irresponsible escalation