(CNN) Russian intelligence officers for the military intelligence GRU recently offered money to Taliban militants in Afghanistan as rewards if they killed US or UK troops there, a European intelligence official told CNN. This story was first reported by the New York TimesUS intelligence concluded months ago that Russian military intelligence offered the bounties, amid peace talks, the New York Times reported Friday. McEnany did not deny the validity of the reported US intelligence that a Russian intelligence unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to carry out attacks on coalition forces in Afghanistan. The Taliban also rejected the Times report that they were offered bounties from Russia to target US troops in Afghanistan. This story has been updated with additional reaction, a statement from the White House press secretary and information from a European intelligence official.

Source: CNN June 27, 2020 19:37 UTC