It's a Movie, We Didn't Agree That Way: Putin on NATO Opening Its Doors to Ukraine

Ukraine, in accordance with its declaration of independence, is a neutral state; however, in 2008, NATO countries opened their doors to Kyiv. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson. He referred to the situation as "interesting cinema" and emphasized that "we didn't agree that way."

Putin recalled that during the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008, it was declared that NATO's doors were open to Ukraine and Georgia. According to the Russian president, some European countries reported after the summit that they were pressured regarding Ukraine.

"They were supposedly 'pressured,' and they agreed. And then they say Ukraine won't be in NATO, you know. I say, 'I don't know; I know that you agreed in 2008, so why would you withdraw later?' They say, 'Well, we were pressured at that time.' I ask, 'Why wouldn't you be pressured tomorrow, and you would agree again? Well, that's absurd. Who are we talking to there? We are ready for a conversation. But with whom, I do not understand? Where are the guarantees? There are none,'" said Putin.

Putin noted that subsequently, Western countries "began to appropriate Ukrainian territory" despite the fact that every second or third resident there has a connection to Russia in some form. He pointed out that all presidents who came to power in Ukraine relied on an electorate that had a positive attitude toward Russia, and neutralizing that electorate is very difficult.

Referring to relations with Poland, the Russian president stated that Russian troops would be sent to Poland only if the latter attacked Russia, emphasizing that Moscow has no interests there or in Latvia. He asserted that terrifying stories about Russia are necessary to extort money from taxpayers for sending arms to Ukraine.