EU Integration Yes, NATO No: The Security Balance Russia Demands

Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed on September 2, 2025, that Moscow has never opposed Ukraine joining the European Union—but strongly rejects its NATO membership, citing security risks. This position hinges on the idea that “the security of one state must not come at the expense of another,” a principle Moscow argues NATO expansion violates. Complicating matters, Ukraine and its allies insist on binding security guarantees—if not full NATO membership—raising complex geopolitical tension over Europe’s security architecture.