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Rediff.com  » News » Russia warns Ukraine on joining NATO

Russia warns Ukraine on joining NATO

Source: PTI
February 14, 2008 21:18 IST
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Russia and the United States will continue to develop a "positive, at the least, partnership dialogue", President Vladimir Putin said but warned that Moscow would "be forced to aim missiles" at countries perceived as a threat, specifically Ukraine, which is keen to join NATO.

 

Regardless of who wins the US presidential polls, Moscow and Washington will continue to develop a "positive, at the least, partnership dialogue," Putin told a marathon final press conference as the president.

 

"Whoever wins, we will respect the choice of the American people and will cooperate with any president, if he wants it," Putin said responding to a question.

 

"As for how relations between the United States and Russia

will be built, here I have no doubts. Whatever they say during the election campaigns, the fundamental interests of Russia and the US will inevitably push the leadership of both countries towards developing a positive and, at least, partnership dialogue," 55-year-old Putin observed.

 

The former KGB officer made it clear that Moscow was unhappy at the eastward expansion of the US-led NATO bloc and appearance of new bases close to the Russian borders.

 

"We will have to target our missiles at sites which, in our opinion, may threaten our national security," Putin said in reply to a query on Ukraine's possible accession to NATO. He further said that Russia will fight for its national interests and take adequate steps to counter the threat posed by the imminent deployment of US anti-ballistic missile defence in Czech Republic and Poland and that Moscow will target its missiles at US missile defence systems.

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