US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused reporters of spreading misinformation in connection with reports that Russia was paying militants supported by the Taliban to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan, The Hill reported.

“I’m not going to put at risk the young men and women of Afghanistan in the same way that some news organizations have done… And you ought not be part of that,” he told a reporter.

“I can assure you, that whatever reporting it is that you’re referring to, that we responded in precisely the correct way,” Pompeo said. According to him, the US forces were aware of threats.

“The fact that the Russians are engaged in Afghanistan in a way that’s adverse to the United States is nothing new,” Pompeo noted.

“We took this seriously, we handled it appropriately.”

According to him, the United States has been urging Russia for over a decade to stop the sale of small arms in Afghanistan, which puts Americans at risk. He noted that the Department of Defense has $ 7 billion in resources to counter Moscow’s threats, pointing out the US’s desire for updated and modern arms control.

Speaking about the possibility of inviting Russia to the upcoming meeting of the G7 leaders, Pompeo said that “we need to talk to the Russians,” and the decision is up to President Donald Trump. 

Pompeo added that it is “really critical” to continue engaging with Russians.