Russia Warns NATO: Ukraine Joining the Alliance is "A Declaration of War"

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated that Ukraine's accession to NATO would be a declaration of war on Moscow, and that only the alliance demonstrating wisdom could prevent the destruction of the planet. NATO leaders committed at their summit last week to support Ukraine in its "irreversible path toward Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership," but left the timeline for such membership open. In an interview with "Arguments and Facts," Medvedev, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and a prominent voice among the Kremlin hawks, asserted that Ukraine's membership would go beyond a direct threat to Moscow's security. He mentioned in remarks published on Wednesday, “This (Ukraine joining the alliance) would essentially be a declaration of war.” He continued, “The actions taken by Russia's adversaries against us for years and the expansion of the alliance are bringing NATO to a point of no return.” Medvedev emphasized that Russia has not threatened NATO but will respond to the alliance's attempts to expand. He stressed, "The more these attempts increase, the harsher our responses become."