Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (September 2) hit a conciliatory tone and stated that it was possible to achieve a consensus on security guarantees for Ukraine, even though he firmly rejected the Kiev potential membership of NATO.
“There are ways to ensure the security of Ukraine in the event of conflict,” Putin told Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing. “It seems to me that there is an opportunity to find a consensus,” he added that the topic came in discussions with US President Donald Trump when both leaders met in Alaska.
EU membership acceptable, NATO “unacceptable”
Putin repeated the Russian long -term attitude that while Ukraine had approached the European Union against Moscow, NATO membership was a red line.
“As far as Ukraine membership is concerned in the EU, we have never been objected to it,” Putin said. “As far as NATO is concerned, it is another problem … Our position is well known here: we consider it unacceptable to ourselves.”
Ukraine is looking for guarantees similar to NATO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Green insisted that any settlement with a Russian invasion must include binding security, similar to NATO collective defense.
Western allies are working on details, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for strong Ukrainian military and external warranties.
“To keep peace, Ukraine needs not only its own strong armed forces,” Rutte said in Luxembourg. “The US, Europe and others now define them. As you know, we sit together in many formats.”
Refuses to concern Russia threatening Europe
Putin refused Western concerns that Moscow could move against Europe if she won in Ukraine.
“Hysteria is constantly expanding that Russia is allegedly planning to attack Europe,” he said. “This is the provocation or complete incompetence.”
(Tagstotranslate) Vladimir Putin (T) Ukrainian security guarantees
