Medvedev says Ukraine joining NATO would lead to war

At last week's summit, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) pledged to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to full integration into the Euro-Atlantic region, including NATO membership, but did not specify a specific timeline.

Mr Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, told the Argumenty I Fakty news site that Ukraine's accession to NATO would go beyond a direct threat to Moscow's security.

“This would essentially be a declaration of war…”, he said in remarks released on Wednesday.

In line with the Kremlin's standard position since Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022, Mr Medvedev said Russia did not threaten NATO but would respond to the alliance's efforts to advance its interests.

Mr Medvedev warned the US and its allies that arming Kiev could lead to a "nuclear apocalypse".

He also reiterated Moscow's stance that the appointment of Mark Rutte as NATO chief would not change the alliance's stance.

“For Russia, nothing has changed, because key decisions are not made by NATO member states, but by one country, the United States,” Medvedev said.

Cao Phong (according to TASS, Reuters)