Russia calls Ukraine and Georgia's accession to NATO a colossal problem
During the Valdai Discussion Club, the Director of the Department of European Cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrey Kelin stated that the possible Ukraine and Georgia’s accession to NATO would become a colossal economic and military problem for Russia.
“We will have to build a defensive belt near Sochi and spend enormous resources to prevent a possible attack from the potential enemy, it is inevitable,” TASS news agency cites Kelin as saying.
Kelin added that Russia has a long stretch of border with Ukraine but is “absolutely unequipped”. Therefore, it will be necessary to build defensive facilities and move defensive structures to the south. However, he noted that so far it is not necessary to talk about the imminent entry of Ukraine and Georgia into NATO.
At the end of May, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili expressed hope that the country would join NATO in 2021. In mid-July, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg promised Georgia entry to the alliance. According to him, the organization is impressed with the country's progress on the path of the reforms.
Ukraine also seeks to become a member of NATO. In August, the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko promised to add a clause to the constitution about Ukraine's course toward integration with the EU and becoming a NATO member.
In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would respond “commensurately” to the accession of Ukraine and Georgia into NATO. According to him, those who plan to take “such aggressive steps” need to think about the consequences.