Putin Says Russia Could Accept Ukraine’s EU Membership But Insists NATO Is “Unacceptable”
Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, President Putin has said Msocow's issue is not with Kyiv joining EU, but with becoming a member of NATO. Image courtesy: RNA
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Moscow has no objection to Ukraine joining the European Union (EU), even as he repeated his long-standing opposition to Kyiv’s potential membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Speaking during talks in China with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the Russian president also indicated that there might be room to find “consensus” on future security guarantees for Ukraine.
His comments come after a summit with Donald Trump in Alaska last month, at which the US president said Putin appeared “tired” of the war. Yet Ukraine and its western allies remain sceptical, insisting that Moscow’s signals of compromise mask an enduring threat to Europe’s security order.
What did Putin say about Ukraine’s EU membership?
Putin said Russia “never objected” to Ukraine seeking membership of the EU, a stance that marks one of his most conciliatory public remarks since the invasion in 2022. He contrasted this position with NATO, which he again described as “unacceptable for ourselves”.
He dismissed warnings from Kyiv and western leaders that Russia might extend its aggression beyond Ukraine if it were to win the war. Such claims, he argued, were “horror stories” promoted by “incompetent people” seeking to cast Russia as a permanent enemy.
What are the sticking points over Ukraine’s security?
Diplomats say that securing guarantees for Ukraine is among the hardest elements of any possible settlement. Kyiv insists Russia cannot dictate its alliances, while NATO has stated repeatedly that Moscow has no veto over membership.
Putin told reporters that security options were discussed during his August 15, 2025 meeting with Trump. “There are options for ensuring Ukraine’s security in the event of an end to the conflict,” he said. “And it seems to me that there is an opportunity to find consensus here.”
What other areas did Putin touch on?
The Russian leader also signalled willingness to cooperate on safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, which Russian forces seized in March 2022. He said Moscow was open to working not only with the US but “even with Ukraine” on managing the facility.
For Kyiv, however, such overtures are overshadowed by ongoing fighting and scepticism about Russia’s intentions. Ukrainian and western officials argue that Putin’s words are designed to project flexibility while reinforcing Moscow’s red lines on NATO and retaining leverage on the battlefield.
