Since the overthrow of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and the subsequent Russian annexation of Crimea, and since the outbreak of the uprising of pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country in spring 2014, which he calls Russia’s aggression, he has sought to join NATO. So far, however, he has not received an action plan from the alliance, paving the way for future membership.
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“It simply came to our notice then. Formally, (Ukraine) does not have to become a member of NATO, but military control of the territory is already underway. And it really creates a threat to the Russian Federation, “Putin said during today’s meeting of the Valday discussion club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in southern Russia, according to Interfax.
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Putin likened the current situation to the unification of Germany in the late 1980s, “when they assured on all sides (Soviet Union) that after German unification, NATO’s infrastructure would by no means move east, but in practice (Moscow) had been deceived, and now they ask where the papers are (with the promises at the time) ”.
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After two enlargements, NATO’s infrastructure is constantly moving closer to Russia; At present, they have set up missile defense systems in Romania and Poland with launchers, from which even Tomahawk missiles, ie offensive weapons, can be fired, the Russian president claimed.
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NATO defense ministers today approved a new plan to deal with Russia’s threats. The Alliance will improve its arsenal and defense against missile and hacker attacks.
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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin assured in Kiev on Tuesday that Russia has no right to veto Ukraine’s desire to join the alliance. Austin also described in Kiev as an obstacle to peace in Ukraine. According to the minister, the USA intends to continue to support defense reform, which will lead to Ukraine meeting the criteria for NATO membership.
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Washington is calling for military assistance for Kiev to make progress on reforms and, in particular, on fighting corruption. These reforms are intended to strengthen cooperation with NATO. But neither the Americans nor the Europeans are clearly going to significantly speed up Ukraine’s integration into the alliance, the AFP agency noted.
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In the debate club, Putin spoke on a variety of topics, from the need to maintain the right of veto of permanent members of the UN Security Council, through the controversial application of the law on “foreign agents” in Russia, to the 30th anniversary of the Soviet Union. He attributed the disintegration of the Soviet empire not only to the rigidity and absence of change at the time, but also to “dogmatists on both sides, reactionaries and progressives.”
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“The revolution is not the solution, but the way to deepen the crisis. Not a single revolution was worth the damage it caused to humanity, “stressed the Russian president, who, after two decades in power, is currently characterized as a political conservative. He acknowledged that the West had a right to its own values, but called on it not to impose them on Russia.
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“We are amazed at what is happening in countries that are considered flagships of progress. Of course, these social and cultural upheavals, which are taking place in the United States and in Western Europe, are not our business and we are not involved, “Putin said.
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“Someone in Western countries believes that the aggressive erasure of entire pages of their own history, the reverse discrimination of the majority in the interests of minorities, or demands to renounce such basic things as mother, father, family or the opposite sex are, in their view, a move to revitalize society. It is their right, but we ask them not to come to us with it. We have a different opinion, “added the Russian president.
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