Putin: We Oppose Ukraine's NATO Bid, Not EU Membership

Ukraine's security cannot be ensured at the expense of Russia's security, Putin has stated. Moscow is fighting not so much for territories as for the right of people to speak their language and live by their culture, the Russian President stated.

The opinion of the people who decided to live as part of Russia must be respected; this is democracy, Putin stated, but at the same time noted that Russia has never raised the question that security guarantees for Ukraine could be given in exchange for territories, Putin emphasized, adding that every state, including Ukraine, has the right to have mechanisms for its security. He recalled his previous statements that Russia is not against Ukraine's membership in the EU, but will never agree to Ukraine becoming a member of NATO.