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.”