The Russian President Vladimir Putin told Fox News on Monday that Russia would react "extremely negatively” to the membership of Georgia and Ukraine in NATO.
For us, well, it is a direct and immediate threat to our national security,” Putin said and added that moving NATO infrastructure towards Russian borders "is a threat” for his country.
Putin stated that he was concerned by the expansion of NATO’s facilities and infrastructure.
question about Georgia-Ukraine NATO membership on 15:30.
The number of servicemen is on the rise in regions where they should not be," Putin said.
The military contingent in those regions has been increased by 10,000 people. This is incompliant with the treaties between Russia and NATO. And this is a destabilizing factor, which we have to take into account,” Putin said.
The interview came after Putin’s meeting with the US President Donald Trump in Helsinki the same day.