Conditions for NATO to accept Russia's membership

According to RIA Novosti on July 17, in an interview with Arguments and Facts, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and Chairman of the United Russia Party, Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia would be accepted into NATO after the collapse of the Soviet Union, if the country disintegrated and gave up nuclear weapons.

“If Russia collapses into seven or eight parts, and even gives up nuclear weapons, they will swallow us piece by piece, and that will happen, a complete collapse of Russia, which is what the Western elites have always wanted,” Medvedev said.

Mr. Medvedev recalled the story of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2000 during a meeting with US President Bill Clinton – who initially voiced support for the idea of ​​Russia joining NATO, but after meeting with the group, Mr. Clinton retracted his words and said that it was impossible.

“The process of rapprochement between Russia and NATO never began. So, a special thank you to Mr. Clinton for listening to his advisers. NATO’s rejection of us shows what each of us wants: a conspiracy of the Western elite against Russia,” Medvedev said.

In addition, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council also said: "It is not without reason that NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg recently publicly said that he considers Ukraine joining the alliance a good scenario... in 2034. That is, never."

Medvedev explained that by that time, the current leaders of NATO member states would no longer hold their posts. According to him, promises about Ukraine entering the “NATO paradise” never meant anything, and were ultimately “just an empty phrase, a means to deceive the Ukrainian people”.