The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has failed to keep its non-expansion”promise,” but there should be no war, said Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday.
According to state news agency TASS, Medvedev stated that they promised not to expand NATO but didn’t keep their word.
“They say we did not sign anything. He added that we all know who and when such promises, such assurances were granted.”
“Did they promise to not expand, let’s say, on the territory occupied by the former Soviet Union?” Medvedev said that they had promised it in private talks.
“They did not keep their promises. He said that they were now encroaching upon our state borders.”
“There must never be war in any form, nobody wants to start the war, and all must be done to avoid war. He also spoke on behalf of Russia and the supposedly North Atlantic alliance.
Medvedev also stated that a conflict would be “horrifying” as there are people who make a living by raising tensions.
He stated that a process of negotiations on security assurances is the only way for Russia, Ukraine, or the West to resolve the current tensions.
Medvedev’s remarks directly contradict one NATO’s key principles, as enshrined within its founding document. Since its inception, the alliance has had a “open-door policy.” This means that any European state is welcome to apply for membership.
In 1994, NATO leaders met in Brussels to make it clear that they were open to expansion to the east. In 1997, the Czech Republic and Hungary were invited to start accession negotiations.
Russia has made similar claims regarding NATO before. The US and NATO have always rejected them.