If Ukraine joins NATO not tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, for Russia it “doesn’t change anything at all” in the historical perspective, Putin said. Previously, he suggested that this could lead to a military confrontation.
Vladimir Putin (right) and Olaf Scholz
(Photo: RBC)
Russia insists that the issue of non-expansion of NATO and non-entry of Ukraine into the alliance be resolved now, by peaceful means and during negotiations. This was stated by President Vladimir Putin at a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow, broadcast led RBC.
“Here you said a wonderful phrase: “They say that in the coming years Ukraine will not be in NATO.” What does “they say?” mean, he asked the journalists. According to Putin, Russia “has been told for 30 years that there will be no NATO expansion at all, not one inch towards the Russian borders.” However, now, he pointed out, the Russian side sees the infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance “right at our house.”
The same goes for Ukraine joining the bloc, he continued. “They say it won’t be tomorrow. And when? Day after tomorrow? And what does this change for us in a historical perspective? Absolutely nothing,” Putin said.
Putin turned to NATO with the question: “Do you want to fight Russia?”
Russia hears from Western countries that today Ukraine is not ready to join the alliance, the president said. “And then they say that they won’t accept her tomorrow. And will they accept it when it is prepared for this? For us it may be too late. Therefore, we want to resolve this issue right now,” he stressed.