Putin Against NATO Membership for Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin is 100% against Ukrainian membership in NATO. Putin is not only concerned with Ukraine's joining NATO, but the possibility of hosting NATO or U.S. military installations on Ukrainian soil. In a join press conference with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Putin warned, “It is horrible to say and terrifying to think that Russia could target its missile systems at Ukraine, in response to deployment of such installations on Ukrainian territory. Imagine this for a moment. This is what worries us.”

What does Putin have against NATO? According to an interview published in Time Magazine, Putin noted that NATO is a leftover of the Cold War past. He questions the organization's ability to fight terrorism, and feels joining such a military-political bloc would essentially restrict Russia's sovereignty.

Acknowledging that Russia has no right to interfere with Ukraine's decisions, Putin has cautioned Yushchenko's government against accepting "limitations on its sovereignty." Putin also stated, "But if Ukraine wants its sovereignty restricted, that is its own business."

Yushchenko responded the following day, citing Ukraine's Constitution, which bans the stationing of foreign military foces on Ukrainian territory, with the temporary exception of the Russian fleet stationed in Sevastopol until 2017. Further, Yushchenko indicated that Ukraine would never take any steps that would create threats to Russia.

It should surprise no one that Putin feels this way. He is extremely protective of his country, and will not allow anyone or anything to become a threat.