US Declassifies Transcripts Of Putin-Bush Conversations
5- 5,346
They talked about Ukraine several times.
Transcripts of conversations between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President George W. Bush have hit the Web. The documents show that back in 2001 and 2008, the Kremlin leader openly opposed Ukraine's entry into NATO and outlined a number of other key positions.
The press center of the US National Security Archive reports.
Putin and Bush Talk in 2001
So, back in 2001, Putin told George W. Bush that Ukraine's possible entry into NATO would, in his view, create conflict between Russia and the United States and become the basis for a long-term confrontation.
"I would like to emphasize that the accession to NATO of a country like Ukraine will create in the long term a field of conflict for you and for us, a long-term confrontation," Putin said at the time.
Answering a question about the reasons for this assessment, he argued that Ukraine was allegedly an "artificially created complex state" formed from the territories of neighboring countries. Putin also emphasized that, according to him, one-third of Ukraine's population is made up of Russians, and a significant portion of citizens perceive NATO as a hostile structure.
"This creates the following problems for Russia. It is the threat of deployment of military bases and new military systems near our borders. It creates uncertainty and danger for us. And by relying on anti-NATO forces in Ukraine, Russia will work to deny NATO the ability to expand. Russia will continually cause problems. Why?" - Putin said.
The leaders' 2008 conversation
In 2008, Putin revisited the topic, warning of a possible conflict between Russia and the United States and the risk of "splitting" Ukraine.
"The accession to NATO of a country like Ukraine will create in the long term a field of conflict for you and for us," he said, adding that internal contradictions in Ukraine could lead to its division.
In his conversation with Bush, Putin reiterated the thesis of an "artificially created state" and expressed concern about NATO's military infrastructure moving closer to Russia's borders.
"I have always said that there is a certain pro-Western part and a pro-Russian part. Right now the power there is in the hands of pro-Western leaders. As soon as they came to power, they split within themselves," Putin said.
Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims
You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com
