Russia denies planning attack on NATO countries, calls claims a lie

Russia’s ambassador to Denmark has dismissed as “a lie” reports that Moscow is preparing to attack European NATO members, according to a written statement obtained by Danish broadcaster DR.

Ambassador Vladimir Barbin, responding to a DR investigation into Russian military buildup near the Baltic region, accused NATO of relentless provocation and rejected claims of Russian aggression. “The assertion that Russia will soon decide to attack one or more NATO countries is a lie,” Barbin wrote.

He instead blamed European nations for escalating tensions, citing increased military spending and NATO’s expanding presence near Russia’s borders as evidence that the alliance cannot be considered purely defensive. “Even the most naive no longer believe NATO and its members’ doctrines are defensive in nature,” Barbin stated.

The ambassador also criticized Denmark’s acquisition of long-range weapons capable of striking inside Russia, as well as Sweden’s and Finland’s recent NATO memberships, calling them “a security challenge for Russia.” He warned that these moves would trigger Russian countermeasures to address perceived threats.

DR’s investigation, based on 18 months of research—including interviews with senior Nordic intelligence officials, satellite imagery analysis, and access to NATO war-game scenarios—paints a picture of growing Russian military preparations for potential conflict in the Baltic region. Multiple sources assessed the risk of a Russian attack as highest in the coming years.

Russia’s Defense and Foreign Ministries did not respond to DR’s requests for comment on the findings.