Macron Dismisses Claim CIA Warned France of Russian Drone Strike

French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed claims Thursday that the CIA had warned Paris of a potential Russian drone strike targeting southern Europe, AFP reported. Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported Wednesday that US intelligence had obtained information suggesting Moscow could launch drones from ships in the Mediterranean against France, Spain or Italy.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Macron rejected the specific claim during an interview with French broadcasters TF1 and France 2. “The CIA did not inform the French services of such an attack,” Macron said. Italy also dismissed the report. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said there was no evidence supporting claims of an imminent Russian drone attack against Mediterranean NATO countries and cautioned against adding further tension without confirmation. Macron nevertheless stressed that the wider security environment in Europe is deteriorating. He said hostile actions across the continent had multiplied in recent weeks and described the growing tensions as troubling both for Ukraine and European states. Europe on alert over Russian hybrid operations The denial comes as European governments intensify scrutiny of suspected Russian sabotage, drone activity and other hybrid operations linked by Western officials to Moscow’s campaign against countries supporting Ukraine. France last week announced preparations to respond to what Macron described as intensifying Russian hybrid threats, including cyber operations and drone attacks targeting Europe. French officials say such actions are intended in part to weaken European backing for Kyiv. Other Topics of Interest EU Vows to Condemn Russia at G20 Even if Putin Attends Brussels says it will use the December summit in Miami to denounce Russia’s war, while France’s Le Pen separately welcomed the US invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Germany this month linked Russia to an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August, where explosive-equipped drones were discovered near Ukrainian cargo aircraft. German authorities said the devices could have caused casualties had they detonated. Romanian intelligence also announced earlier this month that it had disrupted a Russian-directed sabotage operation targeting military infrastructure, including Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft. The incidents have sharpened concerns that Russia’s confrontation with Ukraine’s Western supporters is increasingly extending beyond the battlefield. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.