European \u2018war party\u2019 hindering Ukraine peace process \u2013 Kremlin<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n“Indeed, I purposefully worked to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union and ultimately set the goal of Ukraine’s accession,”<\/em> he said. However, in his words, Kiev’s Western European partners behaved condescendingly during the talks. “They showed no understanding of the complexity of Ukraine’s economic situation. Frankly, they displayed arrogance,”<\/em> he added.<\/p>\nYanukovich stressed that while he had been firmly committed to pursuing Ukraine’s EU integration, he had always rejected NATO membership. He said he had “clearly and distinctly understood that this is a disaster for Ukraine”<\/em> and a “road to nowhere.”<\/em>
<\/em><\/p>\n“It is a direct path to civil war,”<\/em> he emphasized.<\/p>\nAfter Yanukovich’s ouster, which Moscow condemned as illegal, the new authorities in Kiev began openly working toward NATO membership, an ambition that was encouraged by the US.<\/p>\n
Russia has said these moves were among the root causes of the current conflict and has demanded that Ukraine remain neutral and refrain from joining military blocs as a part of any peace settlement.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Viktor Yanukovich said he wanted Ukraine to join the EU, but knew that membership in the military bloc would be \u201ca disaster\u201d Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has said he had always been a staunch opponent of Ukraine joining NATO, warning that such a move would have sparked a civil…<\/p>\n
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