Official statements or press releases from Russian or NATO officials

Russia's Vassily Nebenzja Rejects Ukraine's NATO Membership as 'Absolutely Unacceptable' in UN Security Council

Oct 23, 2024, 10:20 AM

Russia has firmly rejected the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO, with Vassily Nebenzja, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, stating that Ukraine's membership is 'absolutely unacceptable' and must not be included in any peace agreement. Nebenzja's comments were made during a session of the UN Security Council, where he called on Western nations to cease their support for what he described as Ukraine's 'barbaric policy' towards Orthodox believers. In response to ongoing discussions among NATO allies, particularly France's efforts to extend an invitation to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated that the issue of Ukraine's NATO membership 'cannot be and will not be a matter for discussion.'