Europe sees no evidence Russia will attack NATO, report says

European officials maintain there is no indication Russia is preparing for a conventional military strike against NATO or the Baltic states, according to Bloomberg's report on August 28. They refute claims that CIA Director John Ratcliffe's recent visit to Moscow was focused on preventing an attack on NATO, stating the discussions likely included ending the Ukraine war, reaffirming NATO's Article 5 commitment, and the Iran conflict.

Intelligence sources say the trip may have aimed to curb an overzealous Russian reaction to U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, which could impact Russia, and to convince Moscow to cease backing Tehran. Western intelligence has previously warned Russia is investigating sabotage tactics against Baltic infrastructure and false-flag attacks.

However, current intelligence suggests Russia's conventional military readiness has not changed. While Western intelligence agencies maintain regular contact with their Russian counterparts, officials suggest Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow becoming public may have been significant. On the same day as the report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged he received U.S. information about multiple meetings held in Moscow recently.