Security policy Putin: Ukraine’s NATO membership could lead to armed conflict in Crimea – Reiterates accusations of ignoring Russia’s security concerns

Abroad|Security policy

Russian president Vladimir Putin Western countries have ignored Russia’s security concerns, according to Reuters and AFP.

“We are still carefully analyzing the written responses from the United States and NATO,” Putin and his Hungarian prime minister said Tuesday. Victor Orbanin at a joint press conference.

Orban was on a state visit to Moscow on Tuesday.

“But it is already clear that Russia’s ultimate concerns were ignored,” Putin said.

In December, Russia presented the United States and NATO with a list of security guarantees that the country itself said would ease the tensions between the parties. The gap has tightened as Russia has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the Ukrainian border.

Last week, the United States, together with other NATO members, submitted written responses to a list provided by Russia.

United States in its response, rejected Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from applying for NATO membership.

“We did not see proper reflection on our three main demands: halting NATO expansion, ending the deployment of weapons at Russia’s borders, and restoring European military infrastructure to the 1997 situation,” Putin said.

According to Putin, in their response, the United States and NATO invoked the right of states to decide for their own security. However, he says it is only one part of the security equation.

“Another essential part is that it is impossible to allow the security of one country to be strengthened at the expense of the security of others,” Putin said.

Putin according to Ukraine’s membership in NATO could lead to Russia’s armed conflict with the Defense League in Crimea, which it occupied from Ukraine in 2014.

“Let’s imagine that Ukraine is a member of NATO and starts an armed conflict in Crimea, a territory under Russia’s sovereignty,” Putin said.

Neither the West nor the United Nations has recognized Crimea as part of Russia.

“What, do we have to fight NATO? Did anyone think that? Doesn’t seem to have thought, ”Putin was amazed.

Putin believes that the United States is taking advantage of Ukraine to act against Russia.

“It seems to me that the United States is not so much concerned about Ukraine’s security, but its main task is to limit Russia’s development.”

According to him, Ukraine is only a tool for the United States to achieve its own goals. Despite this, Putin believes a solution is still to be found.

“I hope we finally find a solution, even if it won’t be simple,” Putin says.

Corrigendum on 1 February 2022 at 9.36 pm: Contrary to what was previously claimed in the case, Viktor Orban is not the President of Hungary but the Prime Minister.