LONDON (Reuters) – Russia has expressed strong opposition to Ukrainian membership in the NATO military alliance, stating that it would have detrimental effects on Europe’s security architecture. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, made these remarks on the eve of a NATO summit in Lithuania. The summit aims to show solidarity with Ukraine while not yet accepting Kyiv as a member of the alliance.
Peskov emphasized Russia’s clear and unwavering position on Ukraine’s potential NATO membership. He stated that such a move would pose significant risks to the already fragile security architecture in Europe. The spokesperson warned that it would be a direct danger and a threat to Russia, which would necessitate a strong and decisive response from Moscow.
It is essential to note that Russia initiated its military intervention in Ukraine last year, describing it as a “special military operation.” The country took this action after failing to secure what it referred to as “security guarantees” from Western nations, ensuring that Ukraine would never be permitted to join NATO. The United States dismissed this demand as a “non-starter” and asserted that Ukraine should have the freedom to determine its own alliances.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has made it clear that Kyiv will not be admitted as a member while the conflict continues. Furthermore, the Vilnius summit will not issue a formal invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance.
Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Alexander Marrow and Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Andrew Osborn
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