Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a stark warning, stating that Ukraine’s accession to NATO would effectively amount to a declaration of war against Moscow.
Medvedev, currently the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and known for his hawkish stance, made these remarks in an interview with the news outlet Argumenty I Fakty, published on Wednesday.
At NATO’s recent summit, alliance leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support Ukraine’s path towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, including potential NATO membership, but did not specify a timeline for accession.
Medvedev emphasized that Ukraine’s NATO membership would not only pose a direct threat to Russia’s security but also push NATO towards irreversible actions. “This would essentially be a declaration of war, albeit delayed,” he stated, linking NATO’s expansion to actions he views as hostile towards Russia.
Reflecting a longstanding Kremlin stance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Medvedev asserted that Russia does not pose a threat to NATO but would respond firmly to what it perceives as the alliance’s attempts to assert dominance. He warned that the severity of Russia’s responses would escalate in proportion to NATO’s actions, emphasizing that the fate of global stability rests on NATO’s prudence.
Medvedev, once seen as a pro-Western reformer during his presidency from 2008 to 2012, has since adopted a more confrontational stance, cautioning Western nations against escalating the conflict in Ukraine, which he warns could lead to catastrophic consequences, including nuclear conflict.
Regarding the leadership change within NATO, with Mark Rutte appointed as head, Medvedev expressed skepticism that this would alter the alliance’s fundamental approach. He asserted that key decisions within NATO are predominantly driven by the United States, implying continuity in NATO’s policies towards Russia.
NATO, originally established as a defensive alliance against potential Soviet aggression after World War II, has expanded to include countries in Eastern Europe, a move consistently viewed by the Kremlin as provocative and aggressive.