Moscow Open To Ukraine’s EU Bid— President Putin Confirms

Moscow Open To Ukraine’s EU Bid— President Putin Confirms

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is not opposed to Ukraine joining the European Union, but reiterated that NATO membership for Kyiv remains unacceptable.

His remarks come as Washington grows frustrated over Russia’s lack of engagement in U.S.-led peace efforts.

After meeting Putin in Alaska last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said the Russian leader appeared “tired” of the war but stressed peace was not guaranteed.

Western leaders, however, remain skeptical, warning that a Russian victory could embolden Moscow to target Europe and NATO.

Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Beijing, Putin dismissed such fears as “horror stories” fueled by those portraying Russia as a global threat.

He argued Moscow acted in Ukraine to counter Western and NATO influence in the post-Soviet space.

“As for Ukraine’s membership of the EU, we have never objected to this,” the Russian president told Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, at talks in China.

“As for NATO, this is another issue… Our position here is well known: we consider this unacceptable for ourselves.”

Putin also said Russia was ready to cooperate with the U.S.—and even Ukraine—at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, seized by Russian forces in March 2022.

“There are options for ensuring Ukraine’s security in the event of an end to the conflict,” Putin said.

“And it seems to me that there is an opportunity to find consensus here.”

“We can cooperate with American partners at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Putin said, adding that the issue had been discussed indirectly with Washington and that he was even prepared to work with Ukraine at the plant.