Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the consequences of a conflict between his country and NATO, which could lead to Ukraine’s entry into the bloc, are clear to everyone.
“They began to talk more and more actively that Ukraine would be allowed to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Do you understand what this could lead to? Or can I still drive?” asked the president in a meeting with the female staff of Russian airlines.
He recalled that if Ukraine were part of that alliance, according to the treaty of that organization, all its other members should support it in the event of a military conflict.
During his meeting with female pilots and stewardesses, prior to International Women’s Day, Vladimir Putin explained why Russia brought its deterrent forces to a special regime of duty pic.twitter.com/C6AcvhJZcq
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Putin pointed out that in this way Kiev could try to recover the territory of Crimea and, in that case, Moscow would have to face the entire NATO.
The head of state warned that Moscow will consider any attempt by other countries to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine as an intervention in conflict with Kiev, in view of what he considered calls to do so.
“We will immediately consider these countries as participants in the conflict regardless of which organizations they belong to,” he stressed.
He indicated that the implementation of such calls would entail colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe, but for the whole world.
Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, after the authorities of the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People’s Republics requested help to repel Kiev’s aggression.
Previously, Moscow recognized the independence and sovereignty of both territories and signed treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with their leaders, which included the establishment of diplomatic relations and military aid.
In a televised speech to report on the start of the operation, the Russian head of state stated that the goal is to protect the population of Donbass from abuses and genocide by Kiev over the past eight years and to “demilitarize” Ukraine.
He also reiterated that Moscow cannot allow Kiev to acquire nuclear weapons and continue to militarize, which constitutes a danger to the country’s security. He stressed that the continued expansion of NATO is unacceptable to Russia.
