EU Commission Condemns Putin’s Threats Amid Support for Ukraine’s EU Aspirations
The European Commission condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats against Western military involvement in Ukraine while expressing appreciation for his comments regarding Ukraine’s potential European Union membership. On Tuesday, Putin asserted that Russia had “never objected to” Ukraine’s EU bid, adding, “As for NATO, however, that is a different matter,” reports 24brussels.
In contrast, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now a member of Russia’s Security Council, had previously characterized the EU as a security threat to Moscow, emphasizing Russia’s opposition to Ukraine’s membership.
Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho welcomed Putin’s acknowledgment of Ukraine’s place within the EU during a briefing on Friday, underscoring the importance of this stance amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The situation escalated when, on Thursday, representatives from 26 nations in the “coalition of the willing” pledged security guarantees to Ukraine in anticipation of a possible ceasefire.
Putin swiftly reacted on Friday, claiming that any Western troops deployed in Ukraine would become legitimate targets for Russia. “It’s up to Ukraine to decide about the deployment of troops in its territory,” Pinho stated, emphasizing that the security guarantees from member nations wouldn’t automatically entail troop deployments.
Pinho further clarified that the contributions from these 26 countries could take multiple forms, including troop support, reinforcement of the Ukrainian armed forces, or other means of bolstering Ukraine’s position.
