Kremlin says NATO expansion in Ukraine poses unacceptable threat to Russia

Russian government spokesman Dmitry Medvedev. Photo: Actualidad RT / Archive.

In another development that is heightening tensions globally, Russia has confirmed that it will not accept Ukraine as a full member of NATO, a roadmap that was already laid out at this week’s NATO summit in Washington.

“NATO’s steps at the summit will require Russia to make decisions to contain the alliance,” Dmitry Peskov said, concluding that “NATO’s expansion into Ukraine poses an unacceptable threat to Russia’s security.”

According to the Kremlin spokesman, the Atlantic organization “once again confirmed its essence: it is an alliance created for confrontation, and in fact (shows) that it is fully involved in the conflict around Ukraine.”

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Western bloc leaders stressed that “Ukraine’s future lies in NATO” and that its path is “irreversible,” while pledging long-term support for Kyiv.

Although he did not provide a specific timetable, the NATO design comes at a time when Russia is maintaining its slow advance into western Ukraine and consolidating its positions it has occupied in an area of ​​the Donbas that ostensibly represents just over 20 percent of Ukraine’s current map.

Vico warns

For his part, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned on Thursday that Ukraine’s membership in NATO would lead to a third world war, and announced that his party would not support Kiev’s accession to NATO in the Slovak parliament.

“I understand Ukraine’s desire. But Ukraine’s NATO membership is nothing but a guarantee of World War III.”

“Frankly, even without Ukraine’s NATO membership, we are not far from that, when you look at how some advanced democracies are faltering,” Fico, who was shot in May and nearly died, said.

Another arms cache for Ukraine

Meanwhile, the United States will send a new and significant package of weapons and equipment to Ukraine worth $225 million, President Joe Biden announced Thursday during a meeting with his counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Press reports say the aid includes a Patriot missile battery, ammunition for advanced national surface-to-air missile systems; Stinger anti-aircraft missiles; ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems; and 155mm and 105mm artillery shells.

Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; small arms ammunition; ammunition and demolition equipment, etc., will also be provided.

This is the eighth such package that Biden has authorized for Ukraine since signing the National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Long range missiles in germany

In parallel, the White House announced on Wednesday that the United States will begin a gradual deployment of its long-range weapons in Germany starting in 2026.

This move is reminiscent of similar scenarios promoted by Washington during the Cold War against the now-defunct Soviet Union.

When fully developed, these long-range conventional fire units will include SM-6s, Tomahawks, and hypersonic weapons, which have much longer ranges than those currently used in Europe.

The weapons are seen as a direct threat to Russia, both by analysts and Moscow.

In this regard, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov promised that his country would respond to the final deployment with “military” measures.

“Without nerves and emotions, we will develop, first of all, a military response to this new threat,” Ryabkov said, confirming the new escalation in the conflict between Russia and the West.