Biden Proposed to Postpone Ukraine's NATO Membership in 2021 - Putin
17:33 GMT 26.12.2024 (Updated: 18:08 GMT 26.12.2024)
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SOSNOVSKOYE, Russia (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that US President Joe Biden suggested to him in 2021 to postpone Ukraine's admission to NATO.
"I do not know what is being said now in the emerging team of the US president-elect [Donald Trump]. I know that I was told about it back in 2021 while the current President Biden. He suggested exactly that - to postpone Ukraine's admission to NATO for 10-15 years, because it is not ready yet. I reasonably replied, 'Yes, it is not ready today. You will prepare it and accept it'," Putin told a press conference.
🇷🇺 Putin revealed that US President Joe Biden suggested in 2021 that he would postpone Ukraine’s accession to NATO. https://t.co/OKa9rMykkd pic.twitter.com/XWwZUCIG0v
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) December 26, 2024
On the Goals of the Special Military Operation
Russia will continue to achieve all the goals of the special military operation in Ukraine in 2025, because this task is number one, Putin said.
"Of course, we assume that we will solve all the goals of the special military operation. In general, this is the number one task. We will support our people. We are talking now, and they are fighting now," Putin told a news conference, adding that he was interested in the situation on the battlefield every day.
On the Use of the Oreshnik Missile System
Russia might use the Oreshnik missile systems again if necessary, but this will not be a rushed decision, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"If the need arises and we see that the use of more powerful medium-range weapons is required, we will certainly use them [Oreshnik]. But we're not in a hurry," Putin told a press conference.
Russia currently has multiple Oreshnik missile systems, albeit "not many," but has already launched flow production to ensure "adequate quantity," the Russian president noted.
🇷🇺 "We cannot rule out using Oreshnik today, tomorrow or at any time that we feel there's a need to use it," Putin said, during the press conference after Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting https://t.co/AtQi0dWUUS pic.twitter.com/7LuRdD2JIp
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) December 26, 2024
On Russia's Economic Growth
Russia's economy will grow by almost 4% in 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"In the Eurozone you know 1% growth, and in Belarus - 5.4-5.5%, according to the results of the year. In Russia, we are generally satisfied with the results - 3.9. Most likely it will be under 4. In Belarus - 5.5. This is a good result," Putin told a press conference.
On Slovakia as Platform for Future Talks on Ukraine
Slovakia is ready to provide a platform for negotiations on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"As for the place, yes, he [Fico] said that if it comes to negotiations, they would be happy to provide his country's venue for such talks," Putin told reporters, following the Commonwealth of Independent States summit and the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Russia's Leningrad Region, adding that Fico had talked talked about a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine during their meeting in Moscow.
Russia is not against Slovakia becoming a negotiating platform in talks on Ukraine, Putin said, adding that Russia intends to end the Ukraine conflict.
Last Sunday, Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico held talks in the Kremlin.
On Ukraine Gas Transit Contract
It is impossible to conclude a contract for gas transit through Ukraine just a few days before the new year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"There is no contract [for gas transit through Ukraine], and it is impossible to conclude it in three or four days. There will not be a contract," Putin told a press conference.
Russia is ready to supply gas through Ukraine under a contract with any counterparty, but this is impossible in the context of a lawsuit filed by Kiev, the Russian president added.
"The war is a war, but we delivered [gas] regularly and paid and, by the way, we are still paying for the transit [of gas through Ukraine]," Putin emphasized.
The current agreement on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine expires at the end of the year. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated that they did not plan to extend it. Last week, Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out extending the gas transit deal with Russia.
