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US, UK Intel Wary of Russian 'Anti-Western' Ops After Helsinki Summit - Reports

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Sources familiar with intelligence reports collected by the US, UK and other Western countries have made new vague claims about Russian plans to ramp up operations to destabilize Western governments.

Speaking to CNN, anonymous sources suggested that Moscow had cut down its intelligence operations in Western countries over the past weeks during the FIFA World Cup and ahead of Monday's summit between Presidents Putin and Trump, but was planning to renew its "anti-Western operations" now that the events are over.

A similar pause in Russian activities was made ahead of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, the sources claimed.

The sources couldn't offer any specific details about the new operations, but said that they generally include "exploiting political turmoil and destabilizing governments in the West," according to CNN.

© CNNScreengrab of CNN's story, featuring a stern-looking Vladimir Putin reviewing a military parade.
Screengrab of CNN's story, featuring a stern-looking Vladimir Putin reviewing a military parade. - Sputnik International
Screengrab of CNN's story, featuring a stern-looking Vladimir Putin reviewing a military parade.

Social media users, many long used to the idea that CNN is a source of 'Fake News', didn't buy the new claims, questioning the authenticity of the unnamed sources, and publishing memes about alleged Russian meddling in US elections.

Others suggested the news agency was trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, durante la reunión con su homólogo ruso, Vladímir Putin - Sputnik International
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Since 2016, Russia has been repeatedly accused of meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections, and of "colluding" with the Trump campaign against Hillary Clinton. However, after nearly two years and multiple legal, media and congressional investigations, claims of Trump-Russia collusion at the state level remain unsubstantiated.

During Monday's summit in Helsinki, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the collusion claims "nonsense," and repeated that Russia "has never interfered and is not going to meddle in US internal affairs, including in the election process." President Trump, who appeared to agree with Putin and to reject claims of Russian meddling made by US intelligence agencies, faced a massive backlash for his remarks, including from his own party, prompting him to backtrack and say that Russia may have meddled, but that it "could be other people also."

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