Putin says Russia has no issue with Ukraine joining EU but rejects any move toward NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met Tuesday in Beijing, offering short but pointed remarks on European security, NATO expansion, and Ukraine’s future in the EU.

Putin, speaking alongside Fico, reiterated that Moscow had never objected to Ukraine potentially joining the European Union. Instead, he dismissed Western claims that Russia harbors intentions to launch attacks on Europe.

According to Reuters, the Russian leader framed NATO’s expansion as the real threat: with the alliance moving steadily eastward, he said, its goal appeared to be “to absorb the entire post-Soviet space.” Putin argued that Russia’s actions are a matter of safeguarding national interests. He added that Ukrainian NATO membership remained an absolute red line for Moscow.

Fico, the only EU head of government present at the Beijing gathering, used his remarks to address criticism he has faced within Europe over attending both this event and Moscow’s Victory Day parade earlier in May. He stressed that his attendance was about respect for “all victims of the second world war.”

The Slovak leader underlined his country’s commitment to the EU but admitted he was often perplexed by some of its decisions. He urged for a return to normalized trade with Russia and criticized Kyiv for recent strikes on gas infrastructure that delivers Russian energy to Slovakia and Hungary.

Looking ahead to a key EU decision on Ukraine’s membership bid, Fico said, “Every country has the right to a European [membership] perspective,” but added that “Ukraine must meet all conditions for entering the EU” to ensure “political criteria cannot prevail over preparation criteria.”

Fico also reiterated his long-standing objection to Ukraine joining NATO. Putin welcomed those remarks, telling Fico that Russia “highly values the independent foreign policy that you and your team, your government, are pursuing.”