CIA Director William Burns called on Western allies not to be intimidated by the Kremlin's nuclear threats during a joint speech with MI6 chief Richard Moore at a Financial Times event, Voice of America reports on August 8.

Burns said there was a moment in the fall of 2022 when he thought there was a real risk of the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons.

According to Burns, in late 2022 he met with Russian intelligence chief Naryshkin in Turkey, where he outlined the consequences of a possible nuclear strike to the Russian authorities.

As he said, he never thought, however, and this was the view of his institution, that they should be unnecessarily frightened by this. Putin is a bully and he will continue to brandish weapons, the official added.

The head of British intelligence called Putin deeply irresponsible"and agreed with Burns that allies should continue to support Ukraine.

Nobody in the West will be frightened by this kind of talk, or by the behaviour of the Russian state, because we understand that we have to stay in this and try to help the Ukrainians regain their independence and sovereignty, the head of MI6 added.