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Vladimir Putin says Russia has never opposed Ukraine's EU membership, but draws a line at NATO. Putin made the comments during a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing.
Putin dismissed claims that Moscow was somehow planning to attack Europe.
In comments reported by Reuters, he argued that with NATO's eastward expansion, the alliance wanted to absorb the entire post-Soviet space and Russia simply needed to protect its interests. He also reiterated that Ukraine's membership in NATO would have been unacceptable to Russia.
In his previous comments, Fico spoke about the criticism he is facing from other EU countries for his participation, as the only EU leader, in today's Chinese event or in the Victory Day parade in Moscow in May, but stressed that he wanted to show his respect for all the victims of World War II.
Fico repeatedly emphasized Slovakia's commitment to the EU, but complained that he did not understand some of its decisions.
He urged the normalization of economic relations with Russia and criticized Ukraine for attacks on critical gas infrastructure that transports Russian gas to Slovakia and Hungary.
Fico also spoke about the important decision expected to be made soon on Ukraine's EU membership and stressed that, while "every country has the right to a European perspective [of membership]", "Ukraine must meet all the conditions for EU membership", so that "political criteria do not prevail over the criteria of preparation" for joining the bloc.
He also reiterated his long-standing position that Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO.
Putin mentioned the topic in his comments in response, saying that Russia "highly appreciates the independent foreign policy that you and your team, your government, are pursuing."
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