“As for Ukraine’s membership in NATO, we have repeatedly said that this poses a threat to Russia’s security, obviously,” Putin said according to state news agency TASS. He added: “And, in fact, one of the reasons for the special military operation [Russian invasion of Ukraine] is the threat of Ukraine joining NATO.”

Referring to arms deliveries to Ukraine, Putin noted that Russia sees how high hopes have been placed on long-range missiles. “Yes, the delivered missiles cause damage, but nothing critical happens in the combat zone with the use of these missiles,” he noted.

Further on, the president stressed that “any country has the right to ensure its security and, of course, has the right to choose the way to achieve this goal it considers the most proper for itself.”

At the same time, Putin stressed that in order to ensure the security of Ukraine “there is only one limitation: it is connected with the fact that to achieve the security of one country, threats to another should not be created.”

“Therefore, we proceed from the understanding that such a principle, which has been repeatedly proclaimed in various international documents, will continue to be taken into account,” the Russian leader noted. “Ukraine, of course, has the right to ensure its security,” Putin restated.

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