Putin says Ukraine's military development poses a threat to Russia

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Putin says Ukraine's military development poses a threat to Russia

This may include adverts from us and 3 rd parties based on our understanding. On Thursday, President Putin, 69, said the Western-backed military development of Ukraine posed a threat to Russia. The comments followed two days after the US defence secretary Lloyd Austin staged a show of support for Kyiv and encouraged its aspiration to join NATO.

Putin spoke to journalists and Russian experts about Mr Austin s visit to Ukraine, when he said no third country could have the right to veto the country s hoped NATO membership, which had paved the way for Kyiv to join. Putin told the Valdai Discussion Club: Military membership of Ukraine in NATO may not take place, but formal development of the territory is already under way. He said: And this really poses a threat to Russia.

The US has been the most powerful supporter of Ukraine since Russia annexation of Crimea in 2014. According to Kyiv, the war between Russia and Ukraine has killed nearly 14,000 people. This week Russia broke diplomatic relations with NATO after the alliance kicked out eight members of its mission for alleged spying.

On Thursday, speaking to the media about incorporating Ukraine into NATO, Russia Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said: Ukraine s accession to NATO would be an extremely dangerous step. In the last week Russia has reported three instances when it says its forces intercepted a US ship or aircraft on the point of breaching its waters. It has also been announced that President Vladmir Putin will not attend the upcoming climate change summit in Glasgow. This week Putin has ordered Russians to stop working for a week amid record daily Covid deaths. READ MORE: USA beefs up military support to Ukraine in warning shot to Putin.