A NATO membership for Ukraine may embolden Kyiv to recover Moscow-annexed Crimea or areas ruled by rebels. Therefore, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that this will draw Moscow into the conflict.
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the United States and its NATO partners have been neglecting Russia’s fundamental security needs and have threatened to recapture lost regions from separatist rebels after Ukraine joins NATO.
On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin warned, “Imagine that Ukraine joins NATO and conducts these military activities. Should we then go to war with NATO? Has anyone else considered this?”
Putin accused the United States of using Ukraine as an “instrument” in its efforts to control Russia, as it complained about the country’s security. He also reported that Washington may try to “pull us into a military war and push its friends in Europe to implement the strong sanctions the United States is talking about now,” he claimed in an interview with CNN.
To “bring Ukraine into NATO and deploy offensive weaponry there” would be another option that “encourages” Ukrainian nationalists “to use force” in the east or Crimea, Putin said. After the ousting of Ukraine’s Moscow-friendly president in 2014, Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula and backed separatists in the country’s eastern industrial heartland, sparking a conflict that has claimed the lives of over 14,000 people.
Increased diplomacy
On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin made his first public comments on the Ukraine standoff in more than a month, suggesting that a Russian invasion of the country is not imminent and that at least one more round of diplomacy with the United States is possible.
The dominant views of both sides, however, remain unwavering, and there appears to be little chance for concessions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will speak soon as Russia responds to a US request for negotiations on smaller Russian demands.
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Blinken reaffirmed the stances put forward by President Vladimir Putin and Vice President Joe Biden. As soon as the United States receives Russia’s response, Biden and Putin, according to the White House, can meet.
Negotiations to settle the deadlock are possible
Because of his discussions with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has developed closer connections with Moscow, Putin stated that a settlement can still be negotiated that considers the concerns of each party.
According to Putin, “we must find a method to safeguard the interests and security of all parties,” including Ukraine, European states, and Russia, in order to progress.
Putin stated the Kremlin is still reviewing the answer of the United States and NATO to the Russian security demands received last week. Putin noted that, however, the West has ignored Russia’s demands that NATO not extend to Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, that it refrains from stationing offensive weapons near Russia, and reduces its presence in Eastern Europe.
Over 100,000 Russian troops have gathered on the Ukrainian border, stirring concerns of an invasion. In a statement, it said it had no plans to attack.
Washington and its allies have rejected the main requests of Moscow. Although Ukraine is not a NATO member and is unlikely to join soon, the West stresses it has the same right to form partnerships as any other nation.
