Putin: NATO is Deceiving Russia

MOSCOW – In the 1990s, NATO promised to Russia that the military bloc led United States of America (USA) it wouldn’t move “an inch east,” but it turned out to be a “loud” and “blatant” lie. The President of Russia said this Vladimir Putin .

Speaking to reporters at his annual year-end press conference, Putin claimed Russia was tricked by the West, which violated its verbal agreement not to recognize the former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact countries into NATO after the fall of the Soviet Union.

“Now see what happens. They fool us hard. blatantly. NATO is growing. They’re in Poland. They have offensive weapons there. That’s what I’m talking about,” Putin explained.

Also read: Vladimir Putin: When it comes to promises, the US cannot be trusted

“Now they are saying that they will have Ukraine too. This means they will deploy their weapons there, even if it is not an official part of NATO.”

According to Putin, it is now up to the US-led bloc to provide assurances for Russia immediately, instead of continuing to talk about it for decades.

Putin also criticized the West for years of trying to weaken and divide his country, arguing that NATO countries should treat Russia as an ally and try to strengthen Russia.

Also read: China and Russia Signal Unite Against the West

Putin’s remarks come less than a week after Moscow submitted a list of demands to the US and its NATO-led military bloc in the form of two draft agreements.

The document consisted of a list of security guarantees, including a request that NATO would not expand eastward into countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union.

If signed, it would also limit troop movement near Russia’s borders, and would prevent missiles from being deployed near the border.

Also read: Tension with US, Russia prepares 10 intercontinental ballistic missile launches

(ian)

– .