Vladimir Putin at Eastern Economic Forum on NATO, Security, and Peace in Ukraine
At the Eastern Economic Forum, Vladimir Putin said Ukraine’s NATO accession is unacceptable for Russia, stressed security must not harm others, and ruled out foreign troops if peace is achieved.
At the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled that in 2014 Ukraine’s president Viktor Yanukovich, who had opposed Kyiv’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance, was overthrown.
Putin stated that forces supporting NATO accession came to power in Ukraine at that time and continue to insist on membership today. He stressed that such a prospect is unacceptable for Moscow. While acknowledging that every state has the right to determine its own security arrangements, he emphasized that such choices cannot disregard Russia’s security interests.
The Russian president noted that this principle is reflected in European documents, where it is established that security must not be achieved at the expense of other countries.
Putin also remarked that, once agreements on a long-term peace are reached, the presence of foreign military contingents on Ukrainian territory would make no sense. He added that, if such agreements are achieved, there should be no doubt that Moscow will fully comply with them.