Moscow: Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the accession of Ukraine to NATO would be a declaration of war against Moscow. The comments came after NATO leaders pledged their support for an "irreversible path" to future membership for Ukraine in a summit held last week to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the military alliance.
According to Reuters, Medvedev told news outlet Argumenty I Fakty that Ukraine’s membership would go beyond a direct threat to Moscow’s security. “This, in essence, would be a declaration of war – albeit with a delay,” he said, adding that the "actions that Russia’s opponents have been taking against us for years, expanding the alliance … take NATO to the point of no return”.
| Russia and Ukraine were set to swap 180 prisoners in a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, bringing the total number of prisoners exchanged under mediation managed by the Gulf state to almost 1,400 this year. Each side planned to release 90 prisoners if the deal went ahead as per plans, according to a Bloomberg report. |
Also the Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, Medvedev said that Russia does not pose a threat to NATO, has no plans to attack NATO member countries, and certainly does not aim to harm their residents. He warned that any attempts to advance hostile interests in Ukraine or other countries close to Russia will continue to be met with appropriate resistance.
The ongoing invasion of Ukraine was top of the agenda at this year's NATO Summit, and a declaration agreed by all members said Russia "remains the most significant and direct threat" to security. Affirming their determination to support Ukraine in building a force capable of defeating Russian aggression, leaders promised to give Kyiv 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military aid "within the next year".
| Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia should be represented at a second summit aiming to secure lasting peace with the Kremlin, after more than two years of war. Several world leaders voiced support for a just resolution to the fighting in Ukraine after a high-level summit convened by Zelenskyy last month in Switzerland where Russia was not invited. |
