has gathered intelligence that Russian intelligence officers have offered to pay bounties to Taliban fighters who kill Americans, three people briefed on the matter told NBC News.

The intelligence news was first reported by The New York Times, which said that "the intelligence finding was briefed to President Trump," who on Sunday denied receiving the briefing.

In the past, the National Security Agency has had success penetrating Russia's military intelligence unit, the GRU.

One intelligence official told NBC News that the report isn't particularly surprising given the fraught history between the U.S.

Ken Dilanian is a correspondent covering intelligence and national security for the NBC News Investigative Unit

Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for the NBC News Investigative Unit