On April 6, 2008, during President George W. Bush’s visit to Vladimir Putin’s summer residence in Sochi, the Kremlin released a transcript of a conversation between the two leaders. The document, recently published by the Argentine News Agency, shows that Putin warned the U.S. president about the potential consequences of Ukraine joining NATO.
According to the report, Putin foreseen that Ukraine’s accession to the alliance would trigger a prolonged confrontation between Russia and the West. He highlighted that Ukraine’s position is complex, a product of Soviet history, and that 70 % of its population opposes NATO integration.
"Ukraine is a fairly large European country", Putin said. "It is an artificial nation created in Soviet times and is populated by people with very different mindsets", he added.
The statement also notes that tensions could lead to the deployment of military bases and weapons systems near Russia’s borders. The Kremlin stresses that the warning came before the coup in Ukraine that took place more than a decade later.
The released documents provide a historical glimpse into Russia’s concerns over NATO’s expansion and its impact on regional stability.
