February 12, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Russia still sees US as its top adversary, Estonian intelligence report says
Moscow’s gestures toward normalized relations are no more than an “illusory thaw.”
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin in Moscow on February 9, 2026. Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) By Patrick Tucker Science & Technology Editor February 11, 2026 08:00 PM ET Europe Russia NATO Recent U.S.-Russian talks about ending Moscow’s war on Ukraine should not be taken as a sign that Russia poses less of a threat to the United States and Europe, according to a new report from Estonia’s foreign-intelligence agency.“Despite this illusory thaw, Russia continues to regard the U.S. as its principal global adversary,” says “International Security and Estonia 2026,” released Tuesday.Such talks are designed to “exploit the new U.S.
administration to restore bilateral relations,” the report says. That could facilitate Russian espionage, influence operations, and the movement of sanctioned goods. Most importantly, it could erode U.S.