Medvedev Warns NATO: Ukraine's Accession Equals War

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has declared that Ukraine's accession to NATO would be seen as a 'declaration of war' against Moscow. He emphasized that only prudence by NATO could prevent global catastrophe. The leaders of NATO recently pledged support for Ukraine’s integration, leaving the timing unclear.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned that Ukraine's accession to NATO would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Moscow. He emphasized that the planet's fate hinges on NATO's prudence, following the alliance's pledge to support Ukraine's integration.

Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, stated that the membership would transcend a direct threat to Moscow's security. Calling it a 'declaration of war with a delay,' he stressed that NATO's advancement could bring irreversible consequences.

The Kremlin sees NATO expansion as an aggressive act, despite NATO's origins as a defensive alliance post-World War Two. Medvedev, who has rebranded from a pro-Western modernizer to an arch-hawk, reiterated that NATO's decisions are principally influenced by the U.S., regardless of leadership changes.

(With inputs from agencies.)