Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he did not consider “chatter” talking about Ukraine’s accession to NATO, so Russia will arrange its security.
“Regarding the proposal associated with the entry or plan of entry for Ukraine in NATO. Yes, I know, I see comments of our observers, I see the reaction of our media, our politicians. Everyone is so far laughed over Zelensky, they say all this The chatter, there will be nothing here, and so on. I have a different opinion, “the Russian leader said in an interview with Russia-1 TV channel.
Putin noted that at the previous two stages of the NATO expansion to the east, all concerns of Moscow were ignored. According to him, there are formal restrictions on Ukraine’s accession to NATO, but there are no guarantees in this matter.
He told that more than once heard from the previous American leaders, that NATO is an open organization and that each state has the right to choose a way to ensure its own security. “I was mentioned repeatedly. And what, what conclusion from this can be done?” – noted the Russian leader.
According to the President of the Russian Federation, the expansion of NATO to the east and the approach of the infrastructure of the Alliance to the borders of the Russian Federation “is of practical importance for Russia.” He recalled that after the accession of Poland and Romania to NATO, Americans “easily agreed” about the placement of missile defense systems there, but the corresponding start-up settings can also be used for shock complexes that reach the center of Russia in 15 minutes.
“Let us imagine that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. The flowing time from Kharkov, let’s say, and I do not know, Dnepropetrovsk to the central part of Russia, to Moscow, will decrease to 7-10 minutes,” Putin said and stressed: ” For us, a red line or not? “
According to the Russian president, the countries of the West even in the period of good relations with Moscow spank their interests on the issue of expanding NATO. “With regard to the expansion of NATO, the NATO infrastructure approximation to the Russian borders is an extremely important thing for the safety of Russians and Russia,” said the head of the Russian state.