Woody
Well-Known Member
Maybe Russia feels like no one likes them. Maybe all they ever wanted was to hang out with the cool people. Back in the 50's the USSR wanted to join NATO and the vote was a NO. Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and even Putin was thinking about joining 20+ years ago.
Putin Says 'Why Not?' to Russia Joining NATO
By David Hoffman
March 6, 2000
Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an unexpected gesture to the West, suggested in a television interview today that Russia would consider joining NATO if the Western alliance agreed to treat Russia as an equal partner.
"Why not? Why not?" Putin said when asked by BBC interviewer David Frost about Russian membership. "I do not rule out such a possibility, if it will be an equal partner."
"Russia is a part of European culture, and I do not consider my own country in isolation from Europe and from . . . what we often talk about as the civilized world," Putin said. "Therefore, it is with difficulty that I imagine NATO as an enemy."
Putin Says 'Why Not?' to Russia Joining NATO
By David Hoffman
March 6, 2000
Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an unexpected gesture to the West, suggested in a television interview today that Russia would consider joining NATO if the Western alliance agreed to treat Russia as an equal partner.
"Why not? Why not?" Putin said when asked by BBC interviewer David Frost about Russian membership. "I do not rule out such a possibility, if it will be an equal partner."
"Russia is a part of European culture, and I do not consider my own country in isolation from Europe and from . . . what we often talk about as the civilized world," Putin said. "Therefore, it is with difficulty that I imagine NATO as an enemy."