Putin tells a conversation with Joe Biden from 2021. What the American president promised to the head of the Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his US counterpart Joe Biden proposed to him in 2021 “to postpone Ukraine’s accession to NATO by 10-15 years”, as Kiev has long demanded to be integrated in the North Atlantic Alliance, AFP reports. quoted by Agerpres.

“In 2021, the current President Biden proposed to me exactly this: to delay Ukraine’s accession to NATO by 10-15 years, because it was not yet ready,” the head of the Kremlin said during a televised press conference.

“I answered reasonably: “Yes, she is not ready today. But you will prepare for it and accept it,” Putin added.

Moscow sees Ukraine’s accession to NATO as a red line. On the other hand, Kiev presents membership of the Alliance as essential for its security against Russia and demands an invitation as soon as possible.

Zelensky insists on the admission of Ukraine to NATO: joining the alliance is “feasible”, he says.

Ukraine admitted, however, that its membership could come after the conflict with Moscow, triggered by the Russian assault in February 2022.

Washington and Berlin, in particular, are reluctant to any prospect of early membership. In early December, the Kremlin warned again that Ukraine’s accession to NATO would constitute an “unacceptable” threat to Russia.