Putin Warns Ukraine on NATO Ambitions After Biden-Zelenskiy Call
- Russia leader issues warning as Biden heads to NATO summit
- Biden underlined support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in call
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Photographer: Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a harsh warning over prospects for Ukraine joining NATO, saying those in the country opposing membership were anxious not to be caught in a middle of a conflict.
“At least 50% of Ukrainian residents don’t want entry into NATO and these are smart people,” Putin said in an interview late Wednesday to Russian state TV. “They understand, they don’t want to wind up on the firing line, they don’t want to be bargaining chips or cannon fodder.”