Scholz told Putin before the special operation that Ukraine would not join NATO in the next 30 years

Even before the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine would not join NATO in the next 30 years. Scholz said this while answering citizens’ questions during an open day at the Federal Chancellor’s Office.

“I said very clearly – you know this too – that Ukraine’s accession to NATO is not on the agenda. I even told him once after a joint press conference with him: “In the next 30 years, this issue is not on the agenda,” said the German Chancellor (quote according to RIA Novosti).

Scholz also noted that the North Atlantic Alliance has never posed a threat to Russia. According to him, Putin’s proposal to discuss arms control NATO and the United States responded positively. In this regard, Scholz believes that there were no real reasons for the aggravation of the situation in Ukraine.

When exactly the conversation between the leaders of the two countries took place, the chancellor did not specify. Before the start of the special operation, Scholz and Putin spoke on December 21 and February 15. In December, Putin on the phone discussed with the Chancellor, Russian proposals for security guarantees to rule out NATO’s eastward advance. And in February, Scholz came to Moscow and called on the Russian president to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

On February 24, Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine. Putin called the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, its goals. In March, the Russian leader said that the decision to conduct a special operation was connected with a “real threat” to Russia, which arose because of Ukraine’s desire to join NATO and statements by the Ukrainian authorities about the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons.

Subscribe on “Vedomosti” in Telegram and stay up to date with the main news of the economy and business